David King - Welcoming Ultra-Trail Australia Runners onto Gundungurra Country

When I received an order from David King, the name rang a bell, but I didn't immediately recognise who it was.

Anyone who has stood at the start of UTA over the last 18 years would likely know David as the fella who opens the event each year with the Welcome to Country ceremony.

Uncle David has been part of UTA for many years, helping welcome runners onto Gundungurra land and sharing the importance of the Country and culture that sit behind the event.

Once I realised who the order was for, I felt this piece needed to be something a little different.

Rather than creating a standard event print, I wanted to recognise David's connection with both the event and the Country that runners pass through.

Before starting the design, I reached out to David and asked for guidance on some of the traditional symbolism that could help shape the piece.

The yarn circle shapes and flowing lines were included to represent gathering, movement, connection and the journey runners take through Country.

The intention was to add meaning to the piece without taking attention away from the course itself.

The Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo was included as a reference to the Gundungurra spirit animal.

David's guidance was important throughout the process. Rather than making assumptions, I wanted the symbolism included in the piece to come directly from the person it was being created for.

UTA is one of those events that feels bigger than just the race.

The trails, the cliffs, the valleys, the people, the ceremony, the suffering and the finish line all become part of the memory.

This piece was my attempt to represent a small part of that while recognising the Country and story connected to it.