The Title of the show is ʻSpiritʼ, an overarching concept that acknowledges the importance of local contextualised Indigenous spirituality and practices.

My intention is to draw on local Contextualised Aboriginal Spiritualities for the purpose of restoring the spiritual base of our people for their wellbeing into the future.

For my exhibit at Kickarts Gallery two I drew upon Djabuganydji Storylore and the Storytime/ Dreaming brothers Damarri and Guyala and the story of Buda:dji, Carpet Snake, these stories are rooted in the landscape.

These characters and their stories and similar stories from other cultural groups hold the key to the transformation and ongoing psychic and bodily health of the people, and reveal the importance of the natural environmental landscape.

The beliefs of our people were central to caring for and maintaining the integrity of the land, creeks, rivers, sea and itʼs flora and fauna.

The characters were depicted in a number of wall and floor installation, sculptural pieces and a live performance at Gallery two.

Central motivation to ʻSpiritʼ is to encourage Indigenous Australians to see the importance and relevance of culture and our inherent Spiritualities, they are essential to our survival and connection to our lands.

Project ʻSpiritʼ also hopes to broaden the minds of non indigenous people in their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures, and the symbiotic relationship indigenous people have with the natural environments.

At the moment a lot of laws, cultural lores have been vandalised and continue to be broken, upsetting the many hearts and minds of indigenous Australians.

This needs to be turned around, and non indigenous Australians need to listen and learn how to live respectfully here today, indigenous people need to embrace their Spiritualities which is the foundation to their culture.

I am not of Djabugay descent, but growing up here, interacting and being influenced by local traditional people and families. Having opportunities to learn about the culture, my appreciation grew and continues to grow.

Something I now hold to and have shared when I was a local tour guide, I encourage people to become ʻDjabugay at Heartʼ, respecting the People, Culture and NaturalEnvironments we live and experience.

“Without ʻSpiritʼ we are nothing but an empty used vessel”.