Revealed_Kenny Griffiths

REV25-175

Map Of My Grandfather's Country

I grew up in the top end of Western Australia near a town called Kununurra in the East Kimberley, which is in the heart of Miriwoong country. It takes in the surrounding area of Lake Argyle, the Ord River irrigation area, Mirima National Park, and Keep River National Park. More specifically, I grew up on Moonoomoorum (Dumberarl - more commonly known as Bubble Bubble spring). This is my country where my family comes from. My mother is Peggy Griffiths, one of the leading artists from the area. I started to learn how to paint with my family in the early 1980s, listening and learning from my mother and father. Collecting stories, skills, and traditions of our way of life, as well as living what I have learned in terms of our lore, culture, and the boundaries of our fellow Clan group; where our country starts and ends. I was taught to respect our lore and culture; my father took me hunting and gathering, showed me what I can and cannot eat, what sites and animals are sacred to our people, and why. I followed my mother and father, expressing my devotion to the country through my artistic representation of my country and the animals within it, as well as all types of bush tucker. Now I want to paint like them. The paint I use is traditional ochre from my country.

Natural ochre and pigments on canvas

76 X 76cm

Waringarri Aboriginal Arts

Miriwoong