Image above: Christopher Bassi, Shade From The Sun, 2025
On a recent trip to Far North Qld, I was fortunate to overlap with an exceptional exhibition by indigenous artists at Cairns Art Gallery. This was a highlight of the trip and probably my favorite art experience of this time in Qld.
I’ll start with the beautiful textile pieces by Maljah Cathy Snow who presented a series of digital prints on linen from original artwork. She shares her people's culture by extending her practice into a textile medium based on the translation of signature motifs of flora from paintings into designs on fabric.
Mussels in the Mangroves, 2025
Waterlilies, 2025
Seed Lillies, 2025
Pink Barramundi, 2025
'Our Stories ' presents a series of contemporary indigenous weaving. This ancient artform is influenced by the location and country and this artist Philomena Yeatman (Gunggandi) exhibited a large pandanus and cane piece called ‘Mother’s Womb’.
The piece demonstrates the collaborative practice that includes harvesting and preparing the plant fibres for weaving, steeped in cultural knowledge and time. Woven using traditional materials it's a reflection of deep bonds entwining history, family and heritage.
And finally Sonja Carmicheal's piece, Wagari Quandamooka Jagun (Carrying Quandmooka Country) - Yarabin Ragi (sea and Bush). She has meticulously woven 140 little dilly bags, intricately crafted from copper wire, the symbol of connectivity. I loved the experimentation of traditional weaving with expressions of land , sand and sea.
Materials include copper wire, shells, Banksia cones and trunks after fire.
For more go to Cairns Art Gallery
