Walk in their shoes

National Gallery x Volley is an invitation to First Nations artists to illustrate what it is like to ‘walk in their shoes’.

Hear about the art and life of commissioned artists Hayley Coulthard, Penangke people, Sandra Saunders, Boandik/Ngarrindjeri and Scottish descent, Jimmy K Thaiday, Tribe Peiudu and John Prince Siddon, Walmajarri.

What story does your shoe design tell?

The designs on the shoes are about the stories I’ve been inspired by in my artistic practice. It tells of how my people lived before Christianity influence. We had Cultural traditions, beliefs and rituals associated with our livelihood. The shoe depicts motifs of the stories of these Cultural traditions, beliefs and rituals.

Tell us what it is like to walk in your shoes? What does a typical day look like for you?

Tropical. Surrounded by coconut trees with the sea nearby, sea birds and sardines down the beach. One of the many inspirations and motivation for my art practice.

What materials have you used to create your shoe design?

Designing these pair of shoe, I used Black acrylic paint and pen.

How did you become an artist?

Passion. Being creative was always something I enjoyed doing. From a young age at school doing drawings and stuff. Going to art class was always fun. After graduating from school, I joined Erub arts, where I started my professional artistic career.

Tell us about the community that you live in.

My community is a remote island in the eastern Torres Strait islands. My island Erub is surrounded by coral reefs and sand cays that are part of our traditional sea country. Erub has four tribal groups, my mob is Peiudu. The population of our island is about 300-400 people.

What story does your shoe design tell?

My Volley Shoes is a story about the history of Australia. More than 50,000 years ago Aboriginal people lived all over the country having their own clan groups, land, traditions, customs and languages. They hunted and gathered looking after the land, water, animals and environment. In 1788 Captain Cook invaded Australia claiming the land for England, Aboriginal people were hunted, killed, moved to missions, locked in jails and children were removed from families.

Aboriginal people stood up and in July 1971 the Aboriginal flag, designed by Harold Thomas was first raised in Adelaide. In 1972 the Aboriginal tent embassy was set up in Canberra, Aboriginal people fought for land rights and justice.

In 2017 a petition called statement from the heart was written and presented to the Australian government. The statement is to give Aboriginal people a voice in the Australian constitution. A TREATY FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE.

Tell us what it is like to walk in your shoes? What does a typical day look like for you?

In the morning I sit on my deck and listen and watch the birds and contemplate what the day might bring. I enjoy doing gardening and making art. I listen to the ABC news to keep up with current events and have a yarn with mates about what is happening in the world. I regularly catch up with my children and grandchildren which is always a joy to hear what they are doing. I love music and dancing and often have friends around for a meal and music which is always lots of fun.

What materials have you used to create your shoe design?

I have used various colours and sizes of Sharpie pens. This is the first time I have worked with this medium.

How did you become an artist?

I am a self-taught artist. I originally started with wire and paper to tell a story. I got this concept from watching my mother make little wire and cotton people. I now mainly work with acrylic and oil paints. My work is political satire and tells stories of the injustices that happen to Aboriginal people in this country. My work is also about the destruction of the land, animals and plants. Doing art is a way for me to get rid of the pain and anger I feel seeing what is happening in this country.

Tell us about the community that you live in.

I reside in a small township called Wangary. The Aboriginal spelling is Waungerri. It is 45km from Port Lincoln, South Australia heading west. I live in a place that was an old hotel then later became a general store and post office. It overlooks Lake Wangary and the Marble Rangers. When I first aquired the “Old Hotel” I painted all the local dogs from around the community on the outside wall of the building. This was a great way to make connections with the local community people.

The place is Nauo country and is very significant to Aboriginal people, they would gather and hold ceremonies. Although this is not my county I see myself as a caretaker of the land I live on and it is a very special place to live, and I am very lucky.

What story does your shoe design tell?

IKARLAANTJA (Hawk)

This is the MacDonnell Ranges, that big blue mountain is Mount Sonder, Rrutjupma. All the tourists go and take a picture of that big rock, all the tourists from a long way away, they go to Glen Helen, from there they take a photo. From my family’s outstation, I can see that mountain. Early morning and every day. Sometimes I go and stay there for the weekend and I get a piece of paper and pencil and draw that mountain from my outstation. The hawk, irrkarlaantja, up in the sky he goes round and round looking for goanna, lizard. When I’m looking at the mountain I see irrkarlaantja and elintja, galah, and all the other birds.

THIS IS MY COUNTRY URRAMPINYI

This is my country Urrampinyi, that’s old Tempe Downs station, a little cattle station. That’s a old place, my Grandfather was working there a long time ago. We used to go and visit that place every holiday. Christmas holiday, Easter holiday. We have to drive down the south road to get there, or drive Four Wheel Drive up the Finke River, up the middle of the creek. We go to that water place Ilarrara Spring. It's a waterhole west of Urrampinyi (Tempe Downs). We go and camp there down the creek. Early morning we go listen to the lyerrtjina (budgerigars) making a noise, And all the other.

Tell us what it is like to walk in your shoes? What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day I come to the pottery, to Hermannsburg Potters here in Ntaria. Early morning I wake up and see all my Grandchildren and make weetbix for them to eat. Sometimes I walk to the pottery from East side, where I live. Sometimes I get picked up in pottery bus with my Mum, and we go to work together. Some days I am really busy painting, working on pots. Some days I am really busy taking care of things for my family.

What materials have you used to create your shoe design?

I used leather paints on the shoes and made special lids for shoes out of terracotta clay and ceramic underglaze paint, just like my pots. I also made clay beads for the shoelaces.

How did you become an artist?

I was learning from the first ladies here at the pottery, Lindy Rontji, Irene Entata, Judith Inkamala and from my mum, Anita Ratara.

Tell us about the community that you live in.

I live in Ntaria, a remote community 130km west of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). I live at my house, in Ratara Court, Eastside. My House number is 209. I like this community, I have a lot of family here. I was born here. I walk around with kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. We go for a walk up to sandhill, looking for bush tucker – raisins. And we always go to Finke River and look for wild onion down the creek.

What story does your shoe design tell?

That shoes tell you about, the first one, the design of lizard and swan. Makes me think about water story.

Second one is spider. Purlkartu. They can do any web design.

Tell us what it is like to walk in your shoes? What does a typical day look like for you?

Well a regular day you walk la my shoes you’ll be painting all your life. You’ll never stop.

What materials have you used to create your shoe design?

Yeah acrylic paint, I been used that and paint it with a brush.

How did you become an artist?

Well, that’s a good question. I can’t remember really. I been start up I’ll try it, doing painting. I did boab first. Doing la boab and stuff like that. It was hard back then, telling someone to climb up and get it for me.

Tell us about the community that you live in.

Well I’m from two community, one called Yakanarra. I was working helping out in an office job. I got bored. Lots of families there, so I just left all my family there. I’m getting out of there, came into town and stayed here (Fitzroy Crossing). Everything happen here like Mangkaja start, and I start painting there.

National Gallery x Volley is a National Gallery 40th Anniversary project.