Urlakal is a Kala Lagaw Ya language for a dugong herd that are found in the shallow waters through Torres Strait Islands. Each herd is led by a dominate male and moves between different feeding grounds along the tidal currents of Guthal and Kulis.
This artwork is based on a shark which we call “Baidam” in our language that swims near the deep blue sea looking and searching for food and also to protect the reefs.
Naba is a warrior hunter who is from a village on Moa Island, St Paul. He carries his bow and arrows everywhere he goes around the island.
This artwork is about the beauty under the sea which is why I created this piece because it reminded me of our amazing reefs around Moa and the whole Torres Strait.
This piece represents the happiness and live in life, which also describes the deftness one’s true feeling in expression and gratitude.
Plawau Kausal is when flowers bloom on the island with beautiful colours from red, orange and yellow making the island scenery beautiful.
These are all the shell fish people on Moa like to eat.
This artwork captures the repetition of generations; the three ladies sitting and weaving depict the past, present and future. Intrinsically interwoven in this art piece is the teaching and knowledge that is passed on from generation to generation. Uman means weaving, teaching and knitting together the knowledge that is passed on. The basket at the bottom of the print symbolises a vessel where all the knowledge that is taught by gathering together is placed into and held; in order to preserve and retain the past for the future.
When we go out on the reefs at low tide or even go into the creeks. These are some of the baits that we use to catch fish.
This print depict the rock lobsters which is the type of Crayfish species that in our culture we call Murai Kuridh Kiar. It sheds off it’s shells mainly during the cool season around June/July month. In recent years, it has been dismissing off it shells in the wrong seasons due to climate change which have contributed to it’s seasonal life cycle and to it’s environment in the sea and reef.