This painting represents an ant’s nest, gadidjiga nest bull ants. The green represents the river and the dry colours represent the layers of the earth. the dotted patterns with lines underneath represent journey into a new beignning and the healing from trauma.
Name: Dylan Charles
Language: Yorta Yorta
Biography:
I grew up in Shepparton and spent many years with family at Cummeragunja (Barmah). I learnt how to get Bardi Grubs with my Grand Dad but he passed away when I was four years old. I learned the majority of my culture from my Uncle (Mum’s Brother) and he is still teaching me now. I spent a told of time at the Charles/Walker bend of Dungala (Murry River) second on the left hand side! When I was younger going to the ochre mines was a really spiritual experience for me and also going to the sandhills where our law and initiation took place over time.
I like to interpret from the stars because our Nan told us that the stars are our map and so I like to reference the night sky in my work….. like the Emu in the sky. I like to imagine that I am looking from above – a birds eye view! I also like to mirror that view – the land and sky in the one view in my work, which represents the connection between the sky and the earth. I look to use ochre in my paintings because it feels more connected to my traditions. It has a spiritual feel for me. My Uncle Shane has always told me I am from the Dulunyagan bloodline to Ulupna. Our language group in Yorta Yorta and this language is classed as endangered due to colonisation and language and culture being forbidden. |
