West Deck Projections
Projecting on The West Deck facade are a series of Art Work from Indigenous local artist Joan Margret Martin nee Lewis (deceased), a well-known Aboriginal Artist and grandmother to Justin Martin. All paintings, traditionally painted using earth tones telling the story of creation, birth, marriages and connection to land.
Creation
The rainbow serpent is the creator of life for most Aboriginal tribes in Australia. In Western Australia there were three that carved out the land from central Australia. Two travelled west throughout the mid-west and one that travelled south to the south west. In Nyungar country we call this serpent the Waagal. It is important to acknowledge this magical creature on country by grounding yourself and throwing some sand in our water ways before commencing activities.
The Bush Turkey
Turkeys are territorial animals which over there life time would commonly visit feeding grounds and water holes throughout the country. These particular water holes, that the turkey visits, were also used by Aboriginal men for traveling the lands. The Turkeys mate for life. When either paired turkey dies the other turkey partner will cry itself to death. The art work is a representation of those special waterholes and the connection that the male and female turkeys have to each other.
Bungarra Dreaming
In the beginning all moieties were large creatures. The Bungarra was a large monitor lizard and had part in moulding the lands. He created a smooth rock called granite. He rubbed his body over the large granite surfaces moulding it throughout the country. You will often find crystal streak’s or segments of crystal cohorts where he dragged his tail. In the traditional times the granite was used for traps. Aboriginal people would place a large flat rock on top the granisite for reptiles and animals to shelter they would then be easily hunted by the aboriginal men of the tribe. This artwork outlines spiritual importance of rock formations and how they were made by the giant Bungarra and used by the people.
Moieties
Tribal moieties were plants and animal species commonly found within the traditional grounds of a tribe. Individual moieties were given to individuals by grandparents on the characteristics of a childs behaviour. Nyungar elders had the duty to select the moieties for each individual members of the tribe. That member then had the duty of looking after the safety and care of their moieties. This artwork shows the tribal moieties of the ninghan, weitj, yonga, and kardar. The centre piece is our next generations moieties. In some cases the spirit animal chooses you with a friendly visit.
Spirit Line
Our lives have a spirit line that is guided by our old spirits of the land. The artwork reflects thousands of generations guiding our young through life and on into the afterlife, elders looking on over our decisions and the choices we make guiding us down the right path.
Spirit Map
The traditional artwork is the sprit-line of an individual, Individuals are creatures of habit and they often go back to familiar places or sites for activities and ceremonies, this is called a song line. Song lines are strong connections to country and several tribal groups may shared a particular song line. The artwork describes the activities of an individual like a document or calendar that out lining his travels throughout the land, Hunting and gathering, meeting family, practicing culture and ceremonies on country