Michael Anning
Shield-Fruit Bats heading out - 2004
102 cm
natural earth pigments on wood
Code #:2361
$3,750
Provenance
Red Back Art Gallery
Story
Fruit bats can be found within a 35-kilometre radius from the village of Ravenshoe 100 kilometres south-west of Cairns, yet still on Yidinji country. The Warrigal Highland Rainforest Preserve in the Misty Mountains is a suitable habitat for a colony of nomadic Little Red Flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) also referred to as Fruit bats, that use a patch of rainforest over a creek as a temporary roost or ‘camp’ site. The spectacle of bats rising up from the canopy to depart for their daily feed of nectar and fruits in the rainforest. These bats play a vital role in the dispersal of seeds to maintain the continued growth of the rainforest. Traditionally, the rainforest once provided a sustainable habitat for Yidinji people, with access to plants for food and medicinal purposes, therefore they did not need to venture far from their country. The culture of the rainforest peoples is considerably different from other Aboriginal groups, because of their proficient knowledge of toxic plants and arboreal skills that also influenced the making of very unique weapons. Shields used by the rainforest peoples were given to young men when they were taking their rite of passage through the initiation ceremony and were a significant part of the man’s possessions, and decorated with designs that identified them and their country to other groups.
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