96 DN195
Dennis Nona Wapiew Kulal (Fish Rocks) 2011
Etching on Hahnemuhle 310gsm paper Image 1100x680mm, paper 1220x805mm $1500
On the artist’s island of Badu and on a number of the uninhabited islands close by are an abundance of fish traps. These are
constructions of rock walls that are submerged at high tide but exposed at low tide thereby enabling the capture of an
abundance of marine creatures.

At low tide the easily seen fish are speared, however many secret themselves in the rock walls. In order to harvest these a
narcotic liquid called Sazi, made from the root of a particular plant, is introduced into the water.

This temporarily stuns the fish, octopus and other edible marine species.

The location of the traps and positing of the rock walls is far from haphazard. The islander’s intimate knowledge of the sea
and the behaviour of the creatures that inhabit it, their feeding patterns and habitat are all considerations that are taken into
consideration in the construction of these traps.

The embossed and lightly coloured fish can be seen entering and trapped in the rock enclosure.