Ghost Net Snake And String Bag

(I) KAPUA GUTCHEN SNR, born 1957
GHOST NET KEMEI TABO (PET SNAKE), 2012
synthetic fibre and rope
240.0 cm length

PROVENANCE
Darnley Island Art Centre, Darnley Island, Torres Strait Islands (cat. 12 – 20)
Maclean collection, Melbourne, acquired from the above in 2013

EXHIBITED
30th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art Award (NATSIAA), Art Gallery and Museums of the Northern Territory, Darwin, 9 August – 11 November 2013, cat. 196

(II) LORRAINE CONNELLY–NORTHEY, born 1962
NARRBONG (STRING BAG), 2008
wire mesh bag with emu feathers
26.0 cm high

Private collection, Melbourne
Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 22 October 2011, lot 84
Maclean collection, Melbourne

Ghost Net Kemei Tabo (Pet Snake) is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Darnley Island Art Centre, Darnley Island, Torres Strait Islands which states: ‘My ghostnet artwork is Kemei Tabo meaning Pet Snake in my Erubam language. Tabo is a good creature in its own way. They contribute significantly to the balance of nature because they control rats, mice, birds, frog and other small insects. Some Torres Strait Islander families keep them at home as kemei or as buai lubabat (clan totems). My uncle Billy Pensio and family on Erub has a pet 3 meter carpet snake including si (goanna) at their home. Their home is vermin free. So, look after our snake population they mean you no harm. Best advice I’ve learned in the Australian Army Reserve, you stay out of their way, they’ll stay out of your way. My artwork is to make you consider them as part of life and our environment.’

These items are located at our Melbourne Gallery