Christine Holroyd

Background Info

Date of Birth: 28/02/1970

Totem: Jabiru

Language: Kugu

Clan: Kugu/Thaayorre

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Biography

My name is Christine Holroyd.

I am a Kugu and Thaayorre woman. My ancestors connect me to this place. I speak 4 Indigenous languages, and English.My people have been here forever. My father is Wik Iiyanh (fresh water people) from the Upper Holroyd River. My mother is Kugu Munhin (salt- water people) from north Holroyd River.

Both my parents were born in the bush. My dad worked in the stockyard before he met my mum. He worked as a drover for no wages only food. Mum worked in the old hospital cooking for the white staff. My dad lived with his mother, my grandmother. When “nan” passed away he met my mum.

I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers. When we were young our parents would take us all on long walk about journeys. We would travel for weeks. They would take us to our traditional country. It was important for us to know it. I remember swimming across rivers holding onto floating logs. The rivers were home to many big crocodiles and it was a very dangerous. We were lucky and always seemed to get across safely. My generation is the last to go walk about in this way. Now the young people jump in a truck or boat and get there in a few hours instead of a few weeks.

I have worked at our Art Centre since 2010. I have served as the vice president of our management committee for 4 years. I love our centre. I make art because it is in my heart. I love bright colors because they look good and seem to change when you look at them. Making art reminds me of things like going bush. Every time I work on my art it is an experiment. It is always changing and surprises me when it is finished.

My work is on permanent display at the Pormpuraaw Gallery. I have exhibited extensively in national and international galleries and Art Fairs.

Group Exhibitions

2019 CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD
2019 CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD
2018 NEO: Emerging Artist Exposé - KickArts Contemporary, Cairns QLD
2017 Australia: Defending the Oceans - United Nations Exhibition, Geneva, Switzerland
2017 CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD
2017 Australia: Defending the Oceans - United Nations Ocean Conference, New York USA
2017 Australia: Defending the Oceans - Paris Aquarium,Paris, France
2016 CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD
2016 Tabba Nabba - Oceanic Institute, Monaco
2015 Ground: Language, Land & Story - Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2013 Artists from Pormpuraarw, Queensland: New Ghostnet Weavings & Paintings - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2012 Freshwater, Saltwater. Art from the People of Pormpuraaw - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne VIC


Collections

National Museum of Australia, Canberra ACT
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC



Bibliography

2018 Pormpuraaw : stories, art, language. [Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc.] Pormpuraaw, Qld : Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc © 2018
2014 Pormpuraaw, Qld. : Pormpuraaw Arts & Cultural Centre Inc., ©2014
2016 Pormpuraaw: Cultural Uses For Plants. [Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc.] Pormpuraaw, Qld : Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc © 2016


Themes

Clan Totems

Fish and ocean animals

Traditional Stories



Mediums

Acrylic on Canvas

Print Making

Weaving

Acrylic paint on plywood

Ghost net, Plastic Trellis and Twine.