Exhibition on 19 January - 11 February 2023 Cooee Art Redfern
“I am happy to show other people My Country and Culture. It brings a smile to my face when I finish an artwork and see a part of me on it.”
Netta Loogatha Birrmuyingathi Maali was born on Bentick Island at Bilmee, Dog Story Place, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Qld. Loogatha was one of the renowned Seven Sisters from Bentinck Island, group that includes Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori.
Through her vibrant portrayal of her home, Loogatha celebrated the landscape and used her paintings to teach the next generation about Country.
“I paint the story places, all different places, true story places. We learned these from the old people. We learned what’s not for touching. They tell us what it means. We do this so we can pass these stories down to our grandchildren while we’re still alive. They love to hear our stories because of the olden time Dreamtime stories and dancing. There are lots of things that I remember to tell in stories.
