In acknowledgement of NAIDOC Week 2023, Xbox ANZ has joined forces with Lama Lama artist, activist, and Twitch streamer Rubii Red to produce a bespoke design on an Xbox Series S console. The unique design is influenced by this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “For Our Elders”. The console, hand-painted by Rubii Red, will be on exhibit at the Microsoft Experience Centre in Westfield Sydney throughout NAIDOC Week (Until 9 July 2023).
Following the exhibition, the one-of-a-kind console will be auctioned off as an exclusive art piece. The proceeds from this auction will be donated to I.D Know Yourself, a not-for-profit organization that supports children in the out-of-home care system. The organization also advocates for social change aimed at improving the prospects of young individuals.
The design conceptualized by Rubii Red is rooted in her personal connection to the theme and her experiences within her community. She drew inspiration from the integral role of the Elders in safeguarding and transmitting cultural heritage and wisdom to future generations. Through the medium of hand-painting with Posca pens, Rubii Red aimed to encapsulate their guidance and influence in her artwork.
In explaining the intricacies of her design, Rubii Red shared:
The main linework which flows from one end of the console to the other side of the speaker represents stories being passed down through generations and time. The black figures with white eyes in the middle represent our Elders – past and present, as they guide these stories along the console.
The footprints that lead to the side of the console represent us young people carrying that knowledge with us wherever we may go in life and passing it to the younger generations.
The auction for this specially designed Xbox Series S console will commence on Saturday, July 15, on Rubii Red’s Twitch channel. If you cannot make it down to the Microsoft Experience Centre during NAIDOC Week, you can see a find a few preview photographs of the console in this article.
