Ngujay (Freshwater Turtle) was a source of meat as well as a surface for decoration. Traps for catching them were made from lawyer vine and spider’s web was used to make fishing line. To clean the shell for decorating, we would leave it near a green ant nest and then go through a process of soaking and drying it prior to painting. Culturally it is forbidden for pregnant women to eat either freshwater or saltwater turtle.
Name: Lorna Shuan
Language: Kuku Yalanji
Community: Mossman
Biography:
I was born in 1965 at the Mossman Hospital and grew up in the Mossman Gorge Aboriginal community with all my family. I’m a traditional custodian for the Kubirri Warra area.
In 2008 I completed my Certificate IV in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts. I enjoy painting or drawing my stories for printing on fabric and paper. I also tell my stories in clay: I do sgrafitto on ceramic bowls, coolamon and tiles, and drawing. Selecting colours is important to me in all my art. I like bright colours, as for me they bring out more and make me happy.
My family and community motivate me to create art. It is important to follow your passion, heart and dreams and share your talents. It’s important to leave a legacy behind for your family and grandchildren, to help them feel proud and show that you are doing something that makes you happy and helps others.
The rainforest is a big part of my world, it gives me inspiration in my art. Mostly, I enjoy depicting birds - they represent my totems and their spiritual messages and remind me of my family. The Cockatoo and Cassowary are my totems. The Kurranji (Cassowary) is the Madja (Boss). When I paint Kurranji, I have a connection to the rainforest. He looks after the land, cultivating the land and has lovely colours. He is the leader of all birds in the rainforest. Parrots have beautiful rainbow colours which also make me feel happy when I think about family that have passed.
My paintings are connected with traditional ways, connected to the ancestors and my family - especially my grandmother and my grandfather. They give me life and strength.
Kakan (Black Palm) Basket Weaving This design shows how the bottom part of a black palm basket is woven. My grandmothers and aunties used to make them. They cut off the young palm leaves in Read more…