Larrakia turtle, originally uploaded by GeoWombats.
Turtle, originally uploaded by GeoWombats.
There is a brand new suburb being developed in the Northern suburbs of Darwin and I noticed a picture of this turtle when an article about Lyons came up in the local newspaper last week. So this morning I trotted out there to have a look. The turtle stands 1.5 m high and is 4 m long and it is a common motif in the artwork and dreamings of the Larrakia people who are a coastal people.
I would have gotten closer but there were big signs not to go on the grass as they are still trying to get it to grow.
The Larrakia people are the indigenous people of Darwin and this artwork was done in collaboration between wellknown Darwin artist Techy Masero and Larrakia artists James Gaston, Peter Browne, Diane (Deede) Quall, Denise Quall, Dotty Fejo and Jocelyn Archer.
Rockhole, originally uploaded by GeoWombats.
sandstone and porcellanite, originally uploaded by GeoWombats.
The sandstone sculptures of animals also are indicative of Larrakia motifs and the mosaic paving represents waterholes. The animals are made of porcellanite and the upright carving is sandstone.
