The Indigenous Night Sky
A selection of stock works that feature various aspects of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island astronomy
to commemorate the end of the International Year of Astronomy.
9 DN097
Dennis Nona Baidam - Shark Constellation 2006
Linocut Paper: 1080 x 2530mm, Framed: 1255 x 2703mm $7750
Baidam translated is "shark". This artwork is about a constellation of stars (Zugubau Thithuyial). This constellation consists of
seven stars, which the Aboriginal people call the Seven Sisters. My people call it the shark constellation. The stars were
used for navigation. They also provide knowledge about the seasons and for gardening fruit and vegetables. In about
July/August the shark constellation will level itself across the horizon of New Guinea. At seven or eight o'clock you will see it
parallel to New Guinea. At this time the wind drops. Around this time we begin planting vegetables and fruit: Cassava,
Dawai (banana), Guru (sugar cane), Taro /Urrgubau (sweetpotato). Those are the main ones planted when the shark lies
across the horizon. When it becomes calm in the Torres Strait, around this time, a grease forms on the surface of the sea. I
have shown this in the artwork. The grease is called "Baidam aw id" - "when the shark liver has melted on the sea". At this
time it is also sharkmating season: a dangerous time in the sea. The shark constellation rotates throughout the year. In
February, when you see the stars beginning to shine, that's the shark.
Medium: Linocut
Edition Size 35
Printer: Theo Trembley
Studio: Editions Tremblay NFP
Linocut Created At: Brisbane, QLD on February, 2006
Print Published: Brisbane, QLD on February, 2006
Paper: Saunders Waterford CP, 300gsm
Paper Height: 1,060 mm ( 41.7" )
Paper Width: 2,350 mm ( 92.5" )
Image Height: 940 mm ( 37.0" )
Image Width: 2,390 mm ( 94.1" )
I.D. : DN097
  
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