"Turtle Dreaming" by Christine Winmar

"Turtle Dreaming" by Christine WinmarArtist: Christine Winmar Region: Perth, WA Size: 60 x 45 cm About Christine: Christine Winmar is a Noongar woman, born in Midland, Western Australia, in 1965. Her skin name is Allawah, meaning "Stay here" in the Noongar language. She is a respected Aboriginal artist who creates vibrant works inspired by her cultural heritage, including contemporary and traditional techniques of Noongar art. Taught by her father, a renowned artist and didgeridoo

About Christine:

Christine Winmar is a Noongar woman, born in Midland, Western Australia, in 1965. Her skin name is ‘Allawah’, meaning "Stay here" in the Noongar language. She is a respected Aboriginal artist who creates vibrant works inspired by her cultural heritage, including contemporary and traditional techniques of Noongar art. 

Taught by her father, a renowned artist and didgeridoo craftsman, Christine incorporates techniques from her upbringing and experiences in the Kimberley, where she further developed her skills. Her art reflects her connection to land, culture, and community, making her work significant in promoting Indigenous artistry.

Since 1997, Christine has exhibited extensively, including group shows in Perth and San Francisco. Her use of bright dots on canvas, pottery, wood, and glass captures the rich visual storytelling of her Noongar roots.

Today, christine is dedicated to the creation of several new masterworks and the expansion of her existing bestsellers. Notably, her acclaimed Brolga series, which examines themes of love and culture, as well as her Heritage Trail, which reflects her experiences in Aboriginal missions in remote Western Australia, both currently have a six-month waiting list for orders.

About the Painting

Turtles are a favoured food source in Indigenous communities around Australia. They are also an essential element of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Hunting turtles and the preparation, as well as sharing of their meat, have great significance and are expressions of the continuance of traditions. The turtle shell has also been historically fashioned into combs and fishhooks.

Due to the significance of turtles in Australian Indigenous communities, they appear as totems and in Dreamtime stories as well as in Creation myths. The hunting of these animals is allowed when done sustainably and is managed and controlled by social laws that reflect links between families and totems. These marine creatures demonstrate the connection with traditional sea countries.