City buildings have been transformed by huge reproductions of paintings created by two Aboriginal artists in the care of the Department of Justice.
Two prisoner artists have created stunning artworks, Elder Spirits Circling Landscape and Walking on Country for NAIDOC Week, reflecting this year's theme: 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy'.
Giant reproductions of their works have been installed on the entry to the David Malcolm Justice Centre on Barrack Street and Hay Street's Kuraree Kaatdijin Mia building. The original paintings are being displayed at COMO The Treasury hotel in Perth's iconic State Buildings.
A QR code below the artwork on the David Malcolm Justice Centre allows observers to hear from the Whadjuk Noongar artist in his own words, about the meaning of the spirits and landscape he's depicted.
Elder Spirits Circling Landscape - Artwork by a Whadjuk Noongar artist in the care of the Department of Justice
"When I see something, I can visualise it, or if someone describes land to me, I try and put it together in a landscape. When I start a painting, I think of it as an empty box and try to fill it with beautiful things. I started painting a long time back and now I'm attached to it. It takes me to another place and takes away my problems while I'm painting. All these boys who are painting are getting away from hurt for a little while.
"In this painting, the Elder spirits are circling the land, boodja. They are handing over the land for the next generation to look after. We need to listen to the Elders, because they are giving the next generation strength to take care of boodja.
"When I'm not in here, I find quiet places to sit, special places like the one in the painting, where I sit and listen to my Elders. They are the old people that were important for me when I was growing up. We would sit and listen to them talking around campfires. Now they are gone, but I still find places to sit and ask them things and tell them my problems. I listen out for what they say. They talk to you and give you advice on the wind. The wind is a sign. That's what made me think of this painting. It's the Elder spirits using the wind to talk to the next generation about the land."
Walking on Country - Artwork by a Yamatji/Yinggarda artist in the care of the Department of Juistice.
"Two old men walking on Country, knowing their song lines and passing this knowledge down to the next generations. Leaving a legacy of the visual wisdom of their Country, which gave the two Elders the strength, knowing the leaders and families that follow in their footsteps will continue to thrive on Country. Knowing where to find the waterholes, following the seasonal foods, and finding campsites to keep them safe.
"The colours blue and brown are visual marks of the Land and waterholes, straw yellow and white represent river sands and the clouds which bring the rain and feeds our Mother Country. The black brings the night sky, and the handprints are pushing the next generations with wisdom, knowledge, vision and strength that is needed to maintain our cultural legacy."
"Art plays a vital role in the cultural journey, healing and rehabilitation of offenders and 2025 marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week, which is all about celebrating and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's histories and cultures."
