Melissa Ladkin 2024 Collection
I’m a proud descendant of the Awabakal / Wonnarua / Bundjalung peoples, a contemporary Aboriginal artist living on Bundjalung country, Northern NSW. Caring for Country has been at the forefront of my work & I feel deeply connected to the ways these lands have been cared for by those who have come before us. My practice comes with deep respect and care working specifically with ochre & earth pigments, it is a very personal journey and an acknowledgement to the many stories and wisdom our ancient land holds. Melissa Ladkin 2024
taraika taraika - one to another This is how everything in Country is a mirror, it does not lie. All that is in the land is reflected in the sky, as is in our waters. County holds story and that connects us to place, our belonging. The health of Country is in our hands, it is our responsibility to respect & protect her. taraika taraika - one to another Ochre Pigments on Linen 91cm x 122cm $5,500
Coquun - Hunter River This piece represents an aerial view of The Coquun (Hunter River) the surrounding mountain ranges, The Liverpool, The Hunter & The Barrington. Once a place of abundance has been decimated by the effects of land degradation from open cut mining, wineries, farming and horse studs in the upper valleys, running through the lands of the Wonnarua, Awabakal and Worimi peoples.
Coquun - Hunter River Ochre Pigments on Linen 91cm x 122cm SOLD
kamaritin - begin in the north Most of our river systems in Eastern Australia flow towards the South. They are important to our people, plants & animals and hold story. Kamaritin represents our connectivity & the movement of water between rivers, wetlands and floodplains, mixes of nutrients into the water, keeping us healthy, connected and happy.
kamaritin - begin in the north Ochre Pigments on Linen 91cm x 91cm $5,000
yaro yaro – scatter III The many layers of our culture, layers of history and stories is sometimes hidden beneath our feet. Only when a disturbance or erosion occurs can it be seen or uncovered. The scattering of middens shows a time of past occupation of the site or area. Concentrations of marine or estuarine shells from a wide range of species, along with bones, crustacea, animals & fish may be seen. Artifacts such as our stone & bone tools, grinding stones and pounders can also be present. This piece is a representation of these layers… yaro yaro – scatter III Ochre Pigments on Linen 91cm x 91cm $5,000
barakong – cycads A deeply spiritual plant and a staple food source with brilliant red seeds available in winter. Cycads require an elaborate process including roasting, airing, pounding and washing. Nuts are sliced and soaked in water for many days to allow the poison to be filtered out. They are then ground into a paste and made into cakes to be cooked on the fire
barakong – cycads Ochre Pigments on Linen 61.5cm x 61.5cm SOLD
paramai – mussel Shellfish, rock oysters, pippy’s & mussels are an abundant and important food source for our people. Both men and women were involved in collecting these delicacies. Some were dislodged with a sharp stone from rock platforms while others by squishing down with our feet & hands into the sandy and muddy intertidal shorelines.
paramai – mussel Ochre Pigments on Linen 61.5cm x 61.5cm SOLD
Jalahny – rainbow Cycle of the seasons and the replenishment to our watering holes. Colours of Country reflected in our sky Country, the rainbow snake is our great creator, life giver & protector of waters, fertility, food and community. We must care for Country. mundjindi-
Jalahny – rainbow Ochre Pigments on Linen 30.5cm x 30.5cm SOLD
koyiyoong - campsite To encircle our world of knowledge, to learn, listen and follow guidance from our elders requires deep listening. To gather together around fire is our classroom, our lecture halls and our boardroom. This is a time of connection, respect and observation.
koyiyoong - campsite Ochre Pigments on Linen 30.5cm x 30.5cm SOLD
mundjindi- protect Mundjind relates to all aspects of country and caring for it. Our Sky country, water country and land are our responsibility to care for, protect and respect it. Country is a living, dynamic environment that sustains us. We do not own the land, we belong to it.
mundjindi- protect Ochre Pigments on Linen 30.5cm x 30.5cm SOLD
wanan – fragments There has been so much taken from our knowledge systems, our Culture and our lands. There are fragments of language throughout this Country, connecting us back to our belonging, our peoples, and our Culture. Our songs, ceremony and practices return us to our truth and ways of being with Country.
wanan – fragments Ochre Pigments on Linen 30.5cm x 30.5cm SOLD
Melissa Ladkin Works still available from earlier collections
bantimita matarakal – message stick Our bantimita matarakal were used for passing information and sometimes invitations to neighbouring clan groups as a transmission of messages. These objects played an important part in communication across our vast land. We have many different languages and our symbols, body language, hand gestures and eye contact are many ways we connected. bantimita matarakal Ochre Pigments on Linen 61.5cm x 61.5cm $3,900
tirikiba - place of flame We are a fire Country; it is our way of managing the land. The health of our soils have relied on our burning systems for 1000’s of years. Our people have used sophisticated sustainable agricultural systems by using this method of cultural land management. This small piece represents the hot fires that have ravished our lands. It is with Cool burning that we can reduce the amount of damage done by hot fires to ecosystems.
tirikiba - place of flame Ochre Pigments on Linen 30.5cm x 30.5cm $1,500
The G Contemporary 6/32 Hastings Street Laguna on Hastings Noosa Heads QLD 4567 art@thegcontemporary.com www.thegcontemporary.com @thegcontemporary
Directors Karen Beardsley +61 400 716 553 Steve Beardsley +61 400 716 526