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Sowurraw Pamay (Digging Wild Yam)

My image Sowurraw Pamay depicts a boy digging for wild yams. I lost my father when I was young so my mother brought us up. My older brother’s taught me the traditional men’s business like hunting and fishing, but I learnt all about gathering plants and their different types from my Mum. As I did this artwork I had a feeling like déjà vu of my mum, myself and two younger sisters one morning long ago.

We were walking along and Mum pointed out some leaves and said “This is sowurr – dig there”. There and then she taught us how to identify when the sowurr were ready to be harvested. We dug everywhere she pointed and soon we knew exactly what we were looking for. I was confused though because I thought we were going fishing but here we were digging all of these yams and our arms were getting sore. After we had a good pile Mum told us to leave half to collect later, but we had to carry the rest to the beach. By the time we caught fish it was late afternoon and we were starving, we hadn’t eaten all day. We made a fire and Mum roasted the yams and the fish, it was so good and gave us strength to head back. When we got home we roasted the rest of the yams and made fish soup for the family.

Laurie Nona 2024

Categories: Badu Art Centre

Name: LAURIE NONA

Language: Kala Lagaw Ya

Community: Badu Island

Biography:

Laurie Nona has been collected by the National Gallery of Australia since the 1990's and is regarded as one of the most exciting artists in the Torres Strait.

Laurie works beautifully across lino relief, copper plate etching and carving with a unique strength - both in style and symbol. He is ambitious and courageous as an artist, and has successfully completed some superb works including a massive tribal drum, standing over 6 feet tall.

All of Laurie's work shows his deep connections to, and recognition of the importance of Island culture. His work recognises his place in the greater wider world and shows beautiful relationships with the fish and other creatures from the ocean, the skies and winds, the storms and currents and the Islands of the Torres Strait.

The Turtle and the Dugong are frequent reference points, as are some of his unique symbols - which are the artists signature marks. Little known are his informal collaborations with other artists of significance, including Joseph Au, Aiona Gaidan Jrn, Weldon Matasia, Matilda Nona and Alick Tipoti - and also his monumental efforts in the early 2000's supporting Joseph Au in starting the Badu Art Centre with support of Alick Tipoti, and leading the push to have Badu Artists recognised.

A leader and a warrior at heart, "Uncle Laurie" is revered across the Torres Strait and well known for his work. His versatility is almost perhaps without precedent - and he journeys into colour, form and design across his tribal drums, hand coloured etchings and prints. Perhaps one of his greatest strengths is the purity of his line, and the careful and wise balance of form, design and function in his imagery.

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