Jeannie Ngakachin Holroyd
Background Info
Date of Birth: 1/07/1952
Totem: Jabiru
Language: Kugu/Thaayorre
Clan: Kugu/Thaayorre
Shop all artworks by Jeannie Holroyd here
Biography
"I am a Kugu and Thaayorre woman. The Jabiru and Jellyfish are my totems.
My traditional country includes Pormpuraaw and inland from North Holroyd River to its headwaters. My ancestors and songlines connect me to this place.
I speak four Indigenous languages plus English. I've always been a good dancer and weaver.
Now I am learning to paint and print my stories.
My work celebrates the totems and stories of my people. It is very important to me that our people maintain our language, culture, dance, stories and songs."
Jeannie has worked at Pormpuraaw Art Centre since 2011. We all call her 'Mum' and she is responsible for supervising our workshop. Jeannie grew up on country, living the traditional Kugu way. She often says she wishes she could go back to living in a humpy and return to the old ways before European influence.
Jeannie has a distinctive painting and print making style and still practices traditional weaving.
Group Exhibitions
| 2019 | CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD |
| 2018 | CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD |
| 2017 | CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD |
| 2017 | Australia: Defending the Oceans - United Nations Exhibition, Musée d’ethnographie de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland |
| 2017 | Australia: Defending the Oceans - United Nations Ocean Conference, New York USA |
| 2017 | Australia: Defending the Oceans - Paris Aquarium,Paris, France |
| 2016 | Tabba Nabba - Oceanic Institute, Monaco |
| 2014 | CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD |
| 2013 | Kinship - CIAF Presents - TANKS Art Centre, Cairns QLD |
Collections
National Museum of Australia, Canberra ACT
Bibliography
| 2018 | Pormpuraaw : stories, art, language. [Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc.] Pormpuraaw, Qld : Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc © 2018 |
| 2016 | Pormpuraaw: Cultural Uses For Plants. [Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc.] Pormpuraaw, Qld : Pormpuraaw Arts & Culture Centre Inc © 2016 |
| 2014 | Pormpuraaw, Qld. : Pormpuraaw Arts & Cultural Centre Inc., ©2014 |
Themes
Jellyfish Totem
Ceremonial Body Paint
Mediums
Acrylic on Canvas
Print Making
Acrylic paint on plywood
Ghost net, Plastic Trellis and Twine