This artwork is collaborated by the King Sisters- Tarisse & Sarrita

Language of Earth by Sarrita King

This is the earth’s story. It is also the story of black and white upon the land and the history we have created and carved into it by our interactions with one another. The intersections of black and white culture and how they meet, creating a narrative in the land and in history, and then moving on in their individual and collaborative journeys are abstractly depicted. In an abstract way Sarrita references the iconography of the Tingari creation ancestors with her use of strong rectangles. These are then given body with dots and dashes, similar to Morse code. These symbols of communication are haunting in their familiarly, like an ancient language that was once known but now sits dormant at the back of one’s memory. The overall aesthetic is bold and assertive, and just like much iconography in Aboriginal cultures, the ancient now appears contemporary.

My Country by Tarisse King

The painting depicts Symbology inspired by the landscape of Katherine in central Australia and the surrounding areas. The Aboriginal Gurindji tribe have travelled and lived in this area for many generations.

Symbols illustrated are:

• The circles represent the life cycle
• Circles and dots represents camp-sites
• Five lines or less with dots represents the tracks
• Six lines or more with dots represents the rivers
• The cross-hatching represents shelter
• The large and small dots represents water
• The arch with dots represents the billabong

If you would like to know more about language of Earth & My Country and the relationship with Aboriginal Art and culture, please read the following articles:

• Aboriginal Art and Culture
• Aboriginal Symbols and their Meanings