MERINDA JOHNSON - WHALE DREAMING
MERINDA JOHNSON
WHALE DREAMING, 2016
80 x 30 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Canvas
REGION
Lajamanu, NT
PROVENANCE
Warnayaka Art , Lajamanu NT
Cooee Art Leven Art, Sydney, NSW
STORY
This dreaming tells of the story of Whales traveling through the east coast of Australia. Throughout the year at specific times Whales are seen migrating north in order to breed and give birth. The Whales return to Antarctica for the Summer to feed and sometimes you are lucky enough to see a Mother and her calf.
Merinda's Grandparents, on both her Mother's and her Father's side were all of aboriginal decent. Her Grandparent are all from the stolen generation. As a young person, growing up in the suburbs of Sydney, Merinda spent many of her childhood holiday's on the east coast of NSW in her Mother's country. From New Castle to Coffs Harbour Merinda would go camping on the edge of the beaches, with her family. Many of these places had area's that where sacred or designated area's such as men's area or women's area, however because of all the elders past and missing from attempts to breed the indigenous out, much of the ancient knowledge has remained lost or kept a secret. Today, however much of the information that once was lost, is being recovered and recorded. Merinda's works hold the stories that she had been taught by her elders about the ocean and beaches.
ARTIST PROFILE
