WAC501/24 – KIA DOWELL

– 90 x 90 cm

Kia has strong family connections to many areas across Gija daam. Her grandmother, M. Thomas (dec), and grandfather, S. Thomas (dec), were part of a generation of leaders, law and culture teachers, business people, healers and strong fighters for justice. Throughout Kia’s life, she has stepped into different roles and, through those roles, found ways to connect with the spirit of those she was taught and those who helped her understand her role in family, community, culture and Country.

I inherit my place in Gija society through my mother. This painting shows the link between generations using the birds associated with my and my family’s s/kin names. In Gija culture, there are two cycles of connections through s/kin names. This painting depicts the matrilineal connection from mother to child.

There are four skin names in this cycle – the cycle starts again every fifth generation. My granddaughters will have the same skin name as my grandmother (Nyawoorroo). Each of the four colours in the middle of the painting represents one of the four s/kin names. The colours honour the eyes of the relevant bird s/kin totem for each of the four s/kin names in this cycle.

Starting at the top left in the yellow ochre (boorr-ngoorroom) is my grandmother – Nyawoorroo skin (emu), who passes her knowledge, skills and information to my mother. Represented by the white ochre (mawoondool) is my mother’s s/kin name and totem – Naangari (crow). She then carries her wisdom, experiences and knowledge with me – I am Nangala skin (Ngayin-ga Nangala-nyin) and the light-yellow ochre honours my s/kin totem (brolga). My job is to continue this cycle to my daughters (or sons if I had them). My daughters are Nyajarri skin (turkey) represented by the grey ash (gawoornbe) ochre.

The five smaller black circles represent the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next. The five circles illustrate that each generation carries the knowledge of the previous five generations with them. At the centre of the painting, represented by the large red ochre (badem) circle, is the source of life and knowledge. Joining each generation are smaller red dots representing the transfer of our cells and DNA – the power of the link between mother and child through blood. It can sometimes be taboo to talk about blood, but it is what we rely on for our knowledge to be passed on in many ways. Western science refers to this as our cellular memory. We also inherit Country through this system, represented by the different shapes.

The use of patterns and different textures honour the different elements – earth, air, fire, wind and space. The outer blue/grey shape is a river and the importance of water as a sustainer of life. The texture shows the ripples of water and its effect on people and the Country; it must move to clean out Country and, in turn, keep people, plants and animals healthy. Water’s importance throughout our life cycle is seen in all stages of motherhood and includes water blessings as we enter the physical world and when we leave the physical world.