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