7.2.11 Brisbane, Bandicoot dreaming and Dress 67

The Australian immigration official seemed delighted to stamp our passports and with a cheery welcome to Austrialia no worries mate, we were back in one of the friendliest laid back countries. Its nine years and one month since we were here last and the sheer open friendly courtesy of these people came rushing back. This trip was going to be fun!

Bandicoot dreaming

Dr Garry Darby has been on board lecturing on Art, he has covered among others Gauguin, Van Gogh for the Tahiti pacific section and now has been lecturing on Aboriginal art. The aboriginal lectures have been fascinating; he has covered the history and geographic location of the painters. He has explained the stories and beliefs behind the styles of painting and how they have in some cases become recognised in the Art world. When Australia was first discovered there were over 350 different language groups, all with their own traditions, body painting and drawing on the ground were ways of teaching and remembering.

Aboriginals do not have a written record of their culture, the different ‘language groups’ kept their secrets within their paintings. They were and still are nomadic. They carry with them the minimum needed for survival in a harsh climate, by painting their bodies with their secrets and drawing their maps in the ground and then scrubbing them away no energy is wasted in transporting records the information travels with them in their heads.

Bandicoot dreaming Janet Long Nakamarra

We have bought a painting by Janet Long Nakamarra called Bandicoot Dreaming. The perspective is one of looking down as they spend all their lives looking for food, tracks and the information the ground gives them. In this painting you can see the concentric circles of either a water hole and or meeting, place the U shape is the shape a seated person would make and the small circles are fruit trees. Janet is fully literate and a teacher Linguist. She written books about the lives of the elders in her community –Warlpiri women’s Voices. She lives and works North West of Alice Springs. She has her work in the Art gallery of NSW, and various others across Australia and also in America. With the stories and the small about of knowledge of how to ‘read’ them we have gained we are delighted to have obtained it.

Brisbane

We were only here a short time, so we concentrated on seeing some of the key sights within walking distance of the centre. We were pleased to see that the Brisbane river has subsided and although it’s a very dark muddy colour is more or less now within its banks. We did see a little evidence of the terrible flooding but generally everywhere looked extremely well maintained and normal.

Dress 67

On Sunday on the southbank there is a craft fair and I was brought to a standstill by these amazing dresses made and designed by ANNA HULM. They are made of three identical scarfs, and Dress 67 is modelled by Danielle. I thought they were wonderful and so I bought one.