© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
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“This is my mother, Nyawurru (emu). This is me, Nangari (crow). This is my daughter, Nangala (brolga). This is my grand-daughter, Nyajari (turkey).”
Shirley has painted the four skin names from her mother’s side. These skin names are for Gija women, and they repeat after four generations. Each skin here refers to an animal, and helps Gija people understand their place in society, and their relationships between each other, particularly, for marriage, and marrying one’s ‘straight-skin.’
Looking at the correct straight skin relationships, Nyawurru (the emu) can marry Nambin, the black-headed snake’s son. Nangari (the crow) can marry Naminjili, the curlew bird’s son, or Nambin’s brother. Nangala (the brolga) can marry Nagarra, the snappy gum flower’s son. Nyajari (the turkey) can marry Nagarra’s brother.
This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
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