08 Dec 2020
Prepared by Saretta Art & Design P/L
This artwork shares cultural narratives in traditional symbolism of the Land of Awabakal
Flowing across the design is songlines on country, reflective of Awabakal people, as the people of the hills and plains.
Blue imagery highlights our footprint on the East Coast and is reflective of prominent waterways including: Conquun River (Hunter River) and Lake Macquarie, while it’s flat top highlights Mount Yengo, the Uluru of the East. The dreamtime story shares how Biami (God) stepped down onto Mount Yengo during creation and is a highly significant ceremonial and gathering place for Aboriginal people across the Hunter.
Imagery within the songlines represents the tall sea fern of the Newcastle area, knows as Muloobinba in the Awabakal language – Place of many sea ferns. This imagery also reflects Hexham Swamp a camp site for Aboriginal people that provided a wide variety of food and resources. Central to the artwork is the traditional symbol for Sun and Moon and silhouetted upon this we see the wedgetail eagle, the totem of the Awabakal people.
Traditional symbols for people, interwoven with steppingstones, flow across the design. These reflects the John Hunter Hospital Schools community inclusive of patients and their steps towards health. Gathering circles embraced within the people symbols highlight teamwork and collaboration of all stakeholders. Elders symbols within the gathering circles represent passing down of knowledge and education received at the John Hunter Hospital school.
The sky backdrop of the artwork in muted colours highlights the dreaming, while also displaying the beauty of the sunrise along the coastline of Awabakal.
To the left of the design fish imagery highlights the mullet run which occurred during the colder months and was herald by the cold westerly winds. Whales have long travelled north along our East Coast and their arrival meant a great feast for Aboriginal people. Dolphins and turtles were abundant through the many waterways of the land of Awabakal and there are also depicted, while the birds within the design highlight the many native and seabirds found across country.
The goanna and Mowane (Kangaroo), which were found in the area in abundance and a readily available food source to the Awabakal are presented within the artwork. The kangaroo imagery also shares the dreamtime story of the Kangaroo inside nobbies. The wallaby’s chased a kangaroo who had done the wrong thing out onto Nobbys Island (before connected to the mainland). The roar of waves upon the rocks is said to be the kangaroo protesting.
Handprints within the artwork acknowledge the Awabakal people. Usually painted in Ochre mixing it into a water paste and spraying it using your mouth as a form of spray gun, they are similar to our signature today and can be found in caves throughout the Hunter region. To the very left of the design is a large gum tree displaying a scar. Scar trees are found right across country and were created when a piece of bark was removed to make traditional tools, instruments and canoes.
Together the traditional symbols in contemporary designed artwork brings a bright and vibrant cultural narrative for all to see and enjoy.