Honouring land connections : floodmarkers public art installation

The artwork contributes to research that records the Dharumbal language and culture, extending cultural understanding and awareness of Aboriginal Country, relationships and stories in the spirit of reconciliation. We wanted everyone in the community to be aware of Dharumbal language, their totems: Barraru (green frog) and Yugu (water lilly), and animals that are a part of their everyday living.The concept and story for the public artwork installation began with the river. Many Aboriginal nations connect the rainbow serpent (Munda-gadda) and rivers. Seven memory poles were produced from the local ironbark timber (Eucalyptus melanophloia) which is a hardwood that can withstand long-term weathering and was cut from the lead artist’s property on the Capricorn Coast. Each memory pole depicts the diversity of environmental connections to Country and were installed as a meandering line to connect to the shape of the river and Munda-gadda (the rainbow serpent). Dharumbal text pole was positioned as the centre point to face the river and the name of the park Toonooba facing Quay Street. The 4 handprints of the collaborating artists were also included on this memory pole. Other images that were carved into the poles included a fishing spear; Wina or Guya (fish); a flowing water symbol; Guwa (yam plant); Gumbaru (ancestors); Dakandy (goanna) and Returning boomerangs on other memory poles. The most significant flood year dates were burnt into the timber of each memory pole. Milbi (river turtle-rheodytes leukops); Barraru (green frog) and Yugu (water lily) were painted onto poles. Windows were cut into the poles and the walls were painted with Gutuna (ochre) before placing the following found objects inside: Badbara (echidna); Wura (kangaroo bones); Gundulu (emu); Fragments of a fishing net; Barramundi skin; Local Birds feathers; A two lined bearded dragon; and Barraru (green frog). The space was then filled with casting resin.--Research statement.