Nyungar woman Paige Pryor’s first collection with Yarn explores how future generations learn from their elders to move forward in culture. Her detailed and rich artwork is available on Polos, Contrast Polos, Homewares and Accessories.
“Our little Yok Koolangkas (girls/children) are there watching us, listening and learning from us, we have to lead the way for them, so they can do it in the future.”
Paige created 3 pieces that together explore the concept of how Culture is passed down so that we can move together, strong into the future. She says her inspiration for this has “a lot to do with community, my own life experience as well as mums. Growing up with my grandmother and also mum's side of things, part of her journey.”
Paige tells stories in her artwork through her use of symbols and her colour choices. “The colours have meanings, they are symbolic of things,” she explains. “So the pinks, they kind of represent change and rebirth. And purple is making new relationships, any kind of relationship. It also symbolises spirituality and that’s kind of what our culture is all about, not religion but spirituality.”
"My artwork is about sharing kaartdijin (knowledge) and storylines and the strong connection that our people have with the animals, land ,sea, lore, language kinship, family, plants/trees and how they healed through these properties.
My artwork is always based on the area and the significance to that land and what our old people done on the Boodja (County). It's important we keep the storylines to that land and ask our Elders of any important stories before painting, as they have more knowledge to pass down.
As an artist I love taking on new and bigger projects as this gives me more space to create and showcase our culture through art." - Paige
