Ganamambagan (Burning Country)

200 x 150cm
Acrylic on canvas

When I was driving back from Sydney, I saw this massive grey smoke and orange skies, coming from the direction of the Currowan Forest, all I felt was my Great Nan, it felt as though she was happy that her land was cleansing itself. But, I’d never seen anything like this before and I felt sad for the animals and people who lived there, this fire was fierce. In this painting though, it’s about how our people managed country by doing traditional burns, so plants can regrow and have more foods available for us and the animals for the next season, to keep the land healthy, as our land breathes just like us.