About the artist:

My name is Francis Shoveller, I am a Lungka Kija man from my Mothers side (Halls Creek) and Karajarri on my Fathers side (Bidyadanga). I have been told many stories about my ancestors and how my country was created (Karajarri / Lunka Kija country). I am deeply into my lore and culture, I practice it everyday and teach it to my kids and other families. I am a musician and in a band that plays contemporary music including native languages into our music. I have picked up doing art as my mum is an artist and I wanted to also show my talent and sharing stories through my artwork. I am also a tour operator and deliver my cultural tour on my country in Bidyadanga and telling/sharing stories and culture to tourists and visitors.

Name of artwork: “Our Skin Groups”

Interpretation:

The 4 big circle represents the 4 skin groups that we use for our cultural identity, practice and many more.
The 2 small circles that comes off each of the 4 large circles are the 2 representing as the male and female that is associated with that particular skin group.
The white line running through all these represents the connection that skin groups has to each other, also how it has been used for centuries.
The blue line represents our water, the water for us is our life that it gives us.
Small white circles with white lines are the spirits of both our past ancestors that shaped these skin groups for us to connect us with culture, country and language.
In The Karajarri culture, we use our skin group to identify us as an individual. The skin group system is really important and plays a huge factor in our cultural practices when it is time to participate. This is also used on a daily basis when greeting other neighboring language groups that use the skin group system.