July 2025

220982347146

View Of Country

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories, the artists paint their country where those stories sit.

This painting shows the layered landscape of Alyawarr, Central Australia. Knowing your country is an important part of living in a remote community like Ampilatwatja. Knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, knowing where there is ‘soakage’ (where you can dig for water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.

“This is my country, my view of country.”

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582357609

Nesting Gone Wrong

For a very long time; Jacklin and Isa have travelled along the same tide lines, nesting on the very beach they hatched from. In recent years, the sight of drifting ghost nets has increased in numbers and frequency. Upon this realisation, they both questioned whether their nesting site will be affected by these drifting ghost nets. As nesting season came around, both female turtles saw how the drifting ghost nets were affecting the environment. They both saw the ghost nets caught amongst the corals on the reef, entangled in and amongst the roots of trees on the beach. Finally, as they beached ready to lay their eggs; they realised the ghost nets were also caught in the sand, making nesting difficult for both Jacklin and Isa. Luckily for these ladies; the local Rangers were nearby to clear the ghost nets, providing a clean site for Jacklin and Isa to nest. Acknowledgements and thanks to all the local rangers of our region for their continuous work on country.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582357593

Reef Mat

As saltwater people, we are culturally and spiritually connected to the ocean. The ocean provides us with food, it’s a medium of transport and is livelihood to many of us. But the Ocean is not just a commodity. The Ocean is restorative. It calms and connects us. By creating this artwork out of ghost nets, I want to raise awareness about the dangers of ghost nets and ocean pollution. Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost or discarded in the ocean. These nets, often nearly invisible, can be left tangled on the reef or drifting in the open ocean, entangling many marine species, damaging the reefs and causing death. There has been a rise in the amount of ghost net accumulating in our ocean today. These nets can take hundreds of thousands of years to degrade. This artwork focuses on utilising recycled materials aimed to promote environmental conservation. It shows the fragile beauty, diversity and value of a vibrant reef while drawing attention to the human-caused threats they face. I hope that this work will serve as a reminder to the community to take care of the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. I hope this work will inspire people to create something with whatever marine debris they find on the beach or in the ocean. One piece of artwork is one piece of abandoned net that’s not floating in the ocean continuing to trap and kill many marine species. We all have a duty of care to protect the ocean and the environment around us for our children and their children.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582357590

Gedera Norr Gedub (Garden of our Homeland)

My Ghost net artwork is a representation of the many coral reefs of our islands and cays within our Torres Strait Islander Sea country of Zenadth Kes and beyond. These many reefs are so special to me because I have been awed by them since my childhood, and now my children and grandchildren share the same fascination, as they are frequent visitors to our marine environment. To me, those reefs out there in the sea are like art galleries of ever-changing fine arts, with spiritual libraries of their own. They tell many stories through life since time immemorial. Just like our ancestors, we Torres Strait Islanders today tell our stories of our reefs and seas through our songs, dances, and modern artwork. Our performances describe the natural beauty of our sea country and all the sea creatures that dwell within it. We, the Torres Strait Islander people of today, are obligated by our ancestral culture to forever protect our sea country until the end of time.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582357583

Before Coral Bleaching

It is common practice for families to go reef walking for food on the fringing reef around Erub. During the monthly low tides, families walk along all the reef surrounding Erub. Silhouettes can be seen from the beach and higher ground of people scattered all around Erub reef walking. When I was little, the fringing reef in front of Egriu village was very colourful and full of life. It was filled with marine life and colourful corals. Rockpools during the low tides were occupied with marine animals; that patiently waited for the tide to come in, whilst hiding under corals. During my time on Erub, I have seen first hand the effects of coral bleaching. The fringing reef in front of Egriu village where I live is no longer as colourful and full of life as it once was when I little. It breaks my heart to see the impact of coral bleaching on the reef. Unfortunately, it is also one of the reasons I no longer go reef walking. Reminiscing on the days of my youth where I would go reef walking at Egriu, this piece is what the fringing reef in front of Egriu village used to look like when I used to go reef walking with my parents.

By CompNet Systems, ago

220982365087

Joyrene Ngwarraye Holmes – Wildflowers

When I go hunting for aker arlkerl (echidna) around the sandhills of Ampilatwatja I always spot the wild flowers and honey flowers.  We tap the Bankias against our hand and get the honey, it is sweet to taste.

 After the rain and bushfires all the new flowers pop up around me. My favourite time of the year is winter when it is cooler to walk and hunt. 

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

 

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582369067

Ray XIII

A variety of rays are found around our island home, from the shallow waters of the shoreline to the reefs and deeper waters. This ray has been created by stitching reclaimed fishing net, rope and twine. Reclaimed fishing nets (also known as ghost nets) are derelict fishing nets that drift aimlessly at sea indiscriminately fishing, killing turtles, other creatures and tangling boat propellers. We are recycling these nets, incorporating other flotsam and making products for enjoyment and use. By purchasing this artwork you are helping indigenous communities who collect this net and other groups who make items to develop economic opportunities. We hope this product brings you great joy and helps spread the ghost net message.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582369061

NAN

A variety of rays are found around our island home, from the shallow waters of the shoreline to the reefs and deeper waters. This ray has been created by stitching reclaimed fishing net, rope and twine. Reclaimed fishing nets (also known as ghost nets) are derelict fishing nets that drift aimlessly at sea indiscriminately fishing, killing turtles, other creatures and tangling boat propellers. We are recycling these nets, incorporating other flotsam and making products for enjoyment and use. By purchasing this artwork you are helping indigenous communities who collect this net and other groups who make items to develop economic opportunities. We hope this product brings you great joy and helps spread the ghost net message.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582369059

Ray X

A variety of rays are found around our island home, from the shallow waters of the shoreline to the reefs and deeper waters. This ray has been created by stitching reclaimed fishing net, rope and twine. Reclaimed fishing nets (also known as ghost nets) are derelict fishing nets that drift aimlessly at sea indiscriminately fishing, killing turtles, other creatures and tangling boat propellers. We are recycling these nets, incorporating other flotsam and making products for enjoyment and use. By purchasing this artwork you are helping indigenous communities who collect this net and other groups who make items to develop economic opportunities. We hope this product brings you great joy and helps spread the ghost net message.

By CompNet Systems, ago

107582369058

Ray IX

A variety of rays are found around our island home, from the shallow waters of the shoreline to the reefs and deeper waters. This ray has been created by stitching reclaimed fishing net, rope and twine. Reclaimed fishing nets (also known as ghost nets) are derelict fishing nets that drift aimlessly at sea indiscriminately fishing, killing turtles, other creatures and tangling boat propellers. We are recycling these nets, incorporating other flotsam and making products for enjoyment and use. By purchasing this artwork you are helping indigenous communities who collect this net and other groups who make items to develop economic opportunities. We hope this product brings you great joy and helps spread the ghost net message

By CompNet Systems, ago