‘Ngali Ngali’ - Together 2021
Commissioned by Coolamon Community, this painting by Arakwal Bumberbin Bundjalung artist Nickolla Clark interprets the story behind Coolamon Community and embodies our purpose, hopes and dreams.
Artist: Nickolla Clark Arakwal Bundjalung - Byron Bay
Artwork statement
This painting reflects community, children, a mothers journey and country. The coolamon is a carrier for vital food, newborns and cultural lore. It's taken from special places for ceremony and to provide safety within that journey. This painting has a coolamon with a meeting place and journey lines connecting two people, a mother and her newborn from its birth place. This is symbolic to my connection to my nan who taught me culture, art, how to care and protect country.
The coolamon is surrounded by community, people sitting and guiding the new life. The white dots represent country sacred sites. The cream dots represent the beach - as coastal people our sacred birthing areas were close to bodies of water and the beach. The red dots represent country and how it provides food, water, cultural signifiers and more for each family to sustain itself.
The painting highlights the connection between my old people, country and new life. So we can look after each other and country.
Ngali Ngali -Together
About the artist
I am the granddaughter of Elder Dulcie Nicholls (Kay), an Arakwal Bumberbin Bundjalung woman, I have been painting since I was 13 years of age. Since then I have progressed into multi-disciplinary forms such as lino/screen printing and natural dyes. My artworks all hold stories, meaning and colours from my homelands and ancestral knowledge. My aboriginal heritage has played a huge role in who I have become today and the main subject for my art. Arakwal country has many diverse elements to its beauty- rivers, open seas, rock formations, creeks, rainforests, middens and plenty of bush foods. Our understanding of the surrounding environment and seasonal changes is very abundant, knowledgeable and prominent, this is taught from young age and passed down through many generations. This has come into form sections of my works, through colours, lines and traditional symbols. I primarily paint to share and educate others around me about my country and what it has to offer and how we can look, share and protect our home.