My Island Home... by Dean Tyson

This design features meriginpa (the sea eagle), undacal (mullet fish), and two types of shellfish known as eugarie and quampi - each a vital food source that also carries cultural knowledge, lore, and deep ties to seasonal cycles.

At the heart of the piece is the sea eagle, a powerful hunter that is significant to all Goenpul, Noonucal & Ngugi people. On sea and Country, flight patterns signal the arrival of mullet season, guiding people to gather and fish in harmony with nature. The inclusion of eugarie and quampi shells as traditional food sources gathered along the shoreline, grounds the design in the lived practices of coastal life.

Dean’s use of colour and shapes reflects his unique artistic style. The texture and energy of the colours add movement and depth, echoing the vitality of ocean life and the ever-changing tide. This design is a tribute to the way Country communicates and the importance of the lore,  listening, observing, and living in tune with nature, while that knowledge keeps getting passed down through generations, that culture remains alive.