Birubi storytelling: Matjarr nguka biinba

Speaker: Artist Gerard Black

Guudji Yiigu Yii Warrimayguba Barray Wanyimbu Wanyimbu. I say welcome, this is Worimi country, always.

Hi, my name is Gerard Black. I'm a proud Worimi man and artist of the artwork before you. The artwork is titled Matjarr nguka biinba.

In Gathang, my native language of the Worimi, this means give me your hand.

Give me your hand is me taking you on a journey. I'm handing out my hand for you, for you to hold on to, and I'll take you with me.

I created this artwork so that you could see through the eyes of our creator spirit Bayami, looking down from the dream time being able to see the landscapes and the land that you're standing on, through his eyes and perspective.

The artwork itself is orientated to the actual landmarks, so Mount Tomaree is facing towards Mount Tomaree.

A common belief between all of our people and ancestors is that the name Tomaree itself in a western construct and how it's pronounced is very similar to our word in Gathang, ‘Tomaree’ which means rainbow.

So the belief is that the name Tomaree comes from the waves crashing up against the cliffs and the sea spray going up into the sky and the sun shining through them. It’s been described to me as like 1000 rainbows at the cliff's edge.

What I'm trying to share with this artwork is, I’m trying to help people want to learn more, be taken out there by the traditional owners and told the stories by the people themselves. That's my ultimate goal with the artwork.