Murray Bridge student’s tram artwork honours Ngarrindjeri culture and elders
The Indigenous artwork of a Murray Bridge student is bringing to life an Adelaide tram while honouring Ngarrindjeri elders.
Murray Bridge High School student Jamain Wilson has contributed to Reconciliation Week by creating artwork that is being displayed on an Adelaide tram until July 30.
Jamain is rightly proud that thousands of people a day will see his art on a tram operating throughout the city and along the Glenelg line.
The Murray Bridge student explained why his tram art means so much to him, with his inclusion of elders particularly apt as NAIDOC Week approached – this year’s theme is “for our elders”.
“I have three big circles in the middle of my artwork; it represents our elders and the next generations,” he said.
“The smallest circle represents the kids, the medium-size circle represents our parents, the big circle represents our elders.
“Then in the middle is the river with spears – the spears represent our way to catch food like fish; then we have the campsite on both sides of the river; then the animals alongside the river to drink some water.
“The campsites on either side of the river represents where I’m from: in Murray Bridge on Ngarrindjeri land.”
Jamain wanted his painting to express how important his culture and his elders were to him.
“Our elders are such an important part of our culture; that’s why I added every part of my artwork to connect back into the middle where the elders are represented,” he said.
Jamain said that his favourite subject at school was the SAASTA (South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy) program.
On the decorated tram, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport is displaying tram artworks from eight different SAASTA academies across SA.
NAIDOC Week will be celebrated with events around the Murraylands from July 2-9.
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