A powerful new portrait exhibition celebrating the lives, achievements and enduring contributions of Menang people will open at the Albany Town Hall later this month as part of the Albany 2026 program.
Binalup, Menang | First Light, First People is a Menang-led collaboration between Elders and award-winning portrait photographer Nic Duncan.
The exhibition features 29 portraits of Elders and other Menang people, shining a light on their contributions to the Menang community and the wider Albany community.
Interviews with each Elder were recorded as part of the project, with captions drawn from those conversations accompanying the portraits. Together, the images and stories provide a personal insight into the lives, achievements and experiences of those who have helped shape the region.
Menang Elder and project co-founder Aunty Carol Pettersen said the exhibition is an opportunity to honour and share important community stories.
“I believe this exhibition will tell our Menang story with a truthful narrative that builds pride and confidence in our youth while fostering mutual respect and collaboration,” she said.
“This photographic display will recognise the struggles of our past while honouring those who, through a positive process of co-adaptation, have built relationships, respect, and collaboration. It has created a safe space for storytelling, allowing shared narratives to foster understanding.”
Mayor of Albany Greg Stocks said the exhibition is an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the enduring contribution of Menang people to the region.
"These portraits honour Menang Elders and community whose knowledge and contributions strengthen our community, creating a lasting record to be shared with future generations," he said.
"Albany 2026 is about telling the many stories that make up our shared history, and this exhibition is a powerful example of that."
The exhibition includes nine additional portraits of Elders photographed by Duncan for NAIDOC Week in 2023, strengthening the collection's significance as a record of Menang people and their stories.
Duncan is one of Western Australia's most respected portrait photographers, having been a three-time finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize and a three-time finalist in the WA AIPP Professional Portrait Photographer of the Year Awards.
The exhibition will be on display at the Albany Town Hall from Friday, June 26 until July 26, 2026, coinciding with NAIDOC Week.
