Mangroves from the Water: Our Recent Exhibition

On June 14, 2026June 16, 2026 By Dr. Zahidah Zeytoun MillieLeave a comment

Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) Exhibition 24 April-3May 2026

Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) is a socially engaged multimedia art project and environmental campaign developed in collaboration with participating international artists and scientists. Initiated in the United Arab Emirates in 2014, the project has evolved over the past twelve years, encouraging new ways of seeing and understanding mangrove environments through multidisciplinary artistic practice and community engagement. The project also formed the foundation of Dr Zahidah Zeytoun Millie’s PhD research in Communication and Creative Arts, completed at Deakin University in 2025.

The most recent exhibition opened on 24 April 2026 at Barwon Heads Arts Hub and was partially supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA). It brought together Zahidah Zeytoun Millie’s watercolour sketches created from a kayak within the mangroves of the Barwon Estuary research site, alongside glass sculptures and acrylic paintings developed through five years of observing a single tree. These works were brought to life through choreography by Jacqui Dreessens and music composed by Demir Aliu. The exhibition also featured immersive works created in collaboration with Jacqui Dreessens and sound artist Pratyay Raha, a PhD candidate at RMIT University, Melbourne, together with a poem recited by Dr Diane Faye. Contributions by Year 5 students from Barwon Heads Primary School further enriched the exhibition. Collectively, these works sought to reconnect local audiences with the beauty and ecological significance of the surrounding mangrove environments.

Selected views of the MFTW exhibition, featuring works by Zahidah Zeytoun Millie and Pratyay Raha

Through artist-led engagement, a guided walk and talk with Jock Mackenzie from MangroveWatch and Rob Bone from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, together with opening events incorporating artistic performance, the exhibition created opportunities for meaningful dialogue between art, science, and community. Local audiences gathered to learn about the environmental importance of mangroves and their role within local ecosystems.

At its core, Mangroves from the Water seeks to cultivate ecological awareness and foster deeper connections between people and environments that have historically been overlooked, misunderstood, or culturally marginalised.

A view of Seed of Life, cast glass sculptures by Zahidah Zeytoun Millie, based on the form of mangrove propagules.

A selection of photographs by Jacqueline Dreessens documenting Dancing in the Echelons: Finding Heritage in a Mangrove Ecosystem, a dance performance and short film.

Dance performance by Jacqui Dreessens, with music by musician Damir Aliu

Poetry by Dr. Diane Faye

Announcement! : Two workshops by one of MFTW’s artists, Jacqui Dreessens.

On January 27, 2023January 27, 2023 By Stephanie Neville1 Comment

Announcement for two workshops by one of MFTW’s inspiring artists, Jacqui Dreessens.

Kayak, Mangroves, Poetry

Do you like kayaking? Ever written poetry? Have you ever seen the mangrove forest on Wadawurrung Country between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove? Come and witness first hand this incredible ecosystem that clears the water and puts oxygen in the air for all of us Beings to breathe. So hardy and yet so fragile. A different World awaits from the Water.

This is Part A of an exciting afternoon/evening: 4pm-6pm. Where the River meets the Sea – Kayak, Mangroves, Poetry

To find out more please open the link

Full Moon Dance

Park B – is a dance making workshop under the Full Moon: 7-10pm – Where the Moonahs meet the Mangroves.

https://www.trybooking.com/CFMZV

Congratulations to Jacqui Dreessens

On August 29, 2022January 2, 2023 By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

We would like to congratulate one of the Mangroves from the Water artists, Jacqui Dreessens for presenting Echelons: Finding a reference point for culture heritage in a mangrove ecosystem at the 46th World Conference International Council of Traditional Music and Dance.

Look at the dancers at Jacqui’s workshop

On August 18, 2021 By Stephanie Neville1 Comment

Jacqui Dreessens, from Wild Moves International, led a fabulously fun interpretive dance and movement workshop in conjunction with her live dance and video performance titled Echelons (2021) at the Mangroves from the Water exhibition. During the official opening day on Saturday 14 Aug, the participants followed her instructions to feel inspired by nature and mangroves to experience, interpret and become at one with nature.

Unfortunately a few participants had to remain in lockdown, but do spot out very own curator Zahidah busting some cool moves!

Mangroves from the Water Exhibition photos

On August 17, 2021August 22, 2021 By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

It’s with great pleasure that we are able to share these images with you from our official opening on Saturday 14 August 2021.

Thanks to the Gordon Gallery, the City of Greater Geelong, Sharjah Institute of Heritage, , the Barwon Estuary Project and Humans of Geelong for their support in realising this show.

The opening began with a Welcome to Wadawurrung Country by Elder Nikki McKenzie, supported by Norm Stanley on the didgeridoo; a ceremony we all acknowledged as befitting the themes and depth of our project and our regard for the mangrove landscape.

We were honoured that Libby Coker MP officially opened the event and we’re grateful for her important words and interest in our project.

Curator Zahidah Zeytoun Millie acknowledged the support of our partners and introduced the work of our 13 artists, all focused on raising awareness of the beauty and importance of mangroves.

To Peter Martin, thank you for presenting the opening oration so eloquently.

The afternoon gave our 50 visitors (we were restricted by Covid 19!) a fascinating range of perspectives that included a human element in addition to the multi media artwork. Choreographic artist Jacqui Dreessens performed a sensorial interpretation of mangroves in dance with video, and Richard Collopy presented a passionate talk on a traditional owner’s perspective of mangroves. Viewers were enthralled by the depth of thought and detail presented in the multi media Mangroves from the Art exhibition.

We are very grateful to everyone who came out to support us, especially during this difficult time with lockdowns. We were sad to miss a few of the artists not being able to attend – some stuck locally (Nicola Cerini and Kerrie Taylor), and some abroad (Geraldine Chansard in Belgium, Stephanie Neville in the UAE and Alexis Gambis in France).

Credit for all images goes to photographer Phil Hines. Our thanks to MC Daniel Zeytoun Millie.

Libby Coker MP, Richard Collopy, Deb Taylor, Zahidah Zeytoun Millie, Helen Martin, Enrico Santucci

Happy International Mangroves Day!

On July 26, 2020 By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

‘Mangroves from the Water’ is a group multimedia art exhibition that would have been opening today in Geelong, Australia, to celebrate the Mangroves Day 26 July, https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/mangroveday.

Due to the Corona virus pandemic the exhibition has been postponed to 26 July, 2021.

Intl Mangrove Day_MangrovesFromtheWater20

In celebration of the upcoming Mangroves Day, ‘Mangroves from the Water’ committed International artist Stephanie Neville has designed our poster.

In collaboration with the Mangroves Fosters Community, Ocean Tree Studio (Maya Greven) in Florida who have designed a poster for the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

Mangroves from the Water artists and quest speakers are artists are:

Alexis Gambis, Nicola Cerini, Enrico Santucci, Deb Taylor, Richard Collopy, Jacqui Dreessens, Geraldine Chansard, Helen and Peter Martin, Malcolm Gardiner, scientist Oskar Serrano and Zahidah Zeytoun Millie

We are all excited to share this special day with fellow international eco-warriors passionate about the preservation of the mangroves!

Schedule of events

On April 7, 2020February 17, 2021 By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

Here is the schedule of talks, events and performances during our exhibition:

Mangroves from the water

Gordon Gallery, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

26 July – 15 August

The exhibition will provide viewers with a range of media to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. The artists also hope to see discussions occurring throughout the exhibition in a series of colloquia.

The artists are:

Alexis Gambis, Nicola Cerini, Enrico Santucci, Deb Taylor, Richard Collopy, Jacqui Dreessens, Stephanie Neville, Geraldine Chansard, Peter & Helen Martin, and Zahidah Zeytoun Millie.

The exhibition event will open on International Mangroves Day, 26 July, and end on 15 August 2020 during National Science Week (15-23 August). Workshops on weaving, printing and painting will run during the multimedia exhibition and guest speakers will present related talks on mangroves and the Barwon region.

Guest speakers:

Date/Time

Guest Speaker

Location

Title

15 Aug,

1000-1100

Oskar Serrano

Deakin University

Coastal wetlands as weapons for climate change mitigation and time capsules of the human past

15 Aug, 1100-1200

Peter Martin

Deakin University

For the Beauty of the Earth

Workshops schedule:

Date/Time	Presenter	Workshop	Location	Materials
31 Jul, 1000-1200 14 Aug, 1000-1200 7 Aug, 1000-1200	Zahidah Zeytoun Millie	Kayaking/water colour sketching.	Barwon River, Barwon Heads Hovells Creek	Water colours, sketch book, kayak (self provided)
1 Aug, 1000-1600	Helen Martin	Eco printing	Point Lonsdale
2 Aug, 1000-1200	Deb Taylor	2 hour collage and paint workshop	Project Space Gallery
26 Jul, 1400-1500 8 Aug, 1400-6500 22 Aug, 1400-6500	Jacqueline Dreessens	Environmental Dance Interpretation	The Project Space Gallery Hovells Creek School theatre TBC
15 Aug, 0930-1230	Nicola Cerini	Interpreting the mangroves: printing on plywood	The School of Lost Arts

Live Performances

Date/Time

Presenter

Performance

Location

Live music

Project Space Gallery

26 July

1400-1500

Jacqueline Dreessens

Environmental Dance Interpretation

The Project Space Gallery

A glimpse into the creative development process of Jacqui Dreessens

On February 12, 2020February 16, 2020 By Stephanie Neville1 Comment

It is always interesting to know how artists/performers derive at their final works. We thank Jacqui for giving us a glimpse into her creative process, translating the inspiration from the natural mangrove environment by using images and words and ultimately transforming it into a physical dance performance.

84740350_2966841470027289_8804458592003424256_o — Jacqui in the mangroves

Writing poetry about the Ecology of Place is vital for Jacqui’s dance making process. To begin to describe her sense of place, Jacqui uses verbs, adverbs, adjectives and alliteration.

72315757_2715476391830466_9108110262979788800_o — Breathe
Upwards
Rooted
Down
MuddyWaters
Clear
Skies
Alive

This helps to unpack her experience from being in and amongst the mangroves while floating in a kayak. These words become the launching pad for movement improvisations in the dance studio.

84414902_2966842353360534_6574481532918956032_o — Seeing inwards
Feeling downwards
Breathing outwards
Growing skywards

Jacqui develops the bodily shapes and movement transitions based on the mangroves, expressing her sensory experiences and memories through the physical bodily form.

For more information, please do visit and follow her on:

https://www.facebook.com/wildmovesinternational/

https://www.instagram.com/wildmovesinternational/