Mylene Holroyd

Background Info

Date of Birth: 18/04/1972

Totem: -

Language: Kugu

Clan: Kugu/Thaayorre

Shop all artworks by Mylene Holroyd here

Biography

I am a Kugu & Thaayorre woman. My ancestors connect me to this place. I speak four Indigenous languages and English. My father is Wik liyanh (fresh water people) from the upper Holroyd River. My mother is Kugu Munhin (salt water people) from north Holroyd River.

Both of 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, just food. Mum worked in the old hospital cooking for the white staff. My dad lived with his mother (my grandmother). He met my mum after 'nan' had passed away.

I have four sisters and two 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 on to floating logs. The rivers were home to many big crocodiles and it was very dangerous. We were lucky and always managed to get across the river 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 love art and have worked at the Art Centre since 2005. I make art because it is in my heart. I love bright colours because they look good and seem to change when you look at them. Making art reminds me of going bush. Every time I work on my art it is an experiment. It is always changing and surprises me when it is finished.

Group Exhibitions

2019 CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal , Cairns QLD
2019 Sea Change, Tree Change, Changing Together - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2017 Australia: Defending the Oceans - United Nations Exhibition, 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
2015 Ground: Language, Land & Story - Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2013 Artists from Pormpuraarw, Queensland: New Ghostnet Weavings & Paintings - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne VIC

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