By Keira Jenkins in Brisbane

Darrell Sibosado’s Country on WA’s Dampier Peninsula has a particular “vibration”.

And this is the vibration the Bard man from Lombadina community, 200km north of Broome, aims to capture in his art practice.

“There’s a pulse to it and that’s what I’m always trying to do, what I’m always trying to replicate,” he told AAP.

Sibosado’s people are renowned shell carvers, a practice passed down through generations.

The riji, or pearl shell designs, represent the scales shed by Aalingoon, the Rainbow Snake, as he rests on the ocean surface, containing traditional knowledge and beliefs.

“That’s where my practice originates from, and that’s what I do today, basically lift the etchings we’ve traditionally done on shell or mother of pearl,” Sibosado said.

“Our traditional carvings are quite small and most of them are in museums … so what I’m trying to do is take that and put it in a more contemporary space and make it a bit accessible to everyone.”

Inspired by his work, choreographer and artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Frances Rings sought to collaborate with Sibosado.

The result of the collaboration is Illume, combining the two mediums of dance and visual arts, exploring the phenomena of light.

The exploration of light is an important one, and opens up numerous themes to explore, which Rings said will be fleshed out with the Lombadina community.

“Some of the themes we’re inspired by, that we’re looking at exploring is some of the environmental concerns we have around light pollution,” she said.

“We’re obviously in a climate emergency, and the impacts of that affect our ability to see the night sky and to see the sky lore and sky Country, and it’s unregulated.

“That’s deeply concerning to us and to elders and communities … Light pollution affects knowledge systems of migration patterns and seasons.”

It’s the first time Bangarra has collaborated with a visual artist, Rings says.

“I hope it will create a multi-dimensional kind of experience, where we get to integrate dance and visual arts,” she said.

“Those incredible design elements of lighting, of music and set design elements that work alongside and represent this incredible First Nations cultural storytelling in contemporary form.”

While Sibosado said he hopes the finished product represents the feeling of his Country, while his works add another layer to the magic of a Bangarra performance.

“What I’m hoping with this work… that it will vibrate like my Country vibrates,” he said.

“Trying to make sure that audiences walk away actually feeling the essence and the rhythm of my Country.

“It’s all salt water so our whole culture up here is all directed and moved according to the way of the ocean.”

Illume will tour the country, beginning in Sydney on May 25, before heading to Perth, Albany, Canberra, Brisbane, Darwin and Melbourne.