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Feeding Season
“Bardi people learn to live off the land and the sea. We use certain plants to indicate which animals are good for eating. For example, the wattle flower tells us the mullet are good to eat; their fat and their eggs are best when the wattle is flowering. We need to know which plants create spears and which roots paralyse the fish so we can catch them. We use the land to help us hunt the sea. My paintings are all about how we use the land to hunt the sea. All the colours I use have meaning.”
– Jaymee-Lee Chaquebor
Jaymee-Lee’s paintings are deeply rooted in Bardi culture, storytelling, and the connection between land and sea. Each artwork reflects knowledge passed down by Elders, showing how Bardi people use Country to guide hunting and fishing practices and feature culturally significant totems— ambarn (manta ray), big mullet (baitfish), and stingray—representing survival, hunting, and seasonal knowledge. The colour choices carry meaning: black represents the strength of rocks and sea shadows, while gold reflects sunlight on the water. Pink and earthy tones mirror fish flesh, sand, and tidal pool reflections.
