Description
Kia Dowell, Denggerr bemberrama daam- Ripping up Country, 2025 traditional ochre on canvas. Image courtesy the artist.
Artist’s Statement:
This painting reflects the ongoing impact of mining on Gija Country and Kia’s deep connection to Daiwul Ngarrangarni (Barramundi Dreaming). It centres on stripping, a method used to prepare land for seeding after mining. Through layered textures and colour, it shows the contrast between damaged and untouched Country, the scars left by machines, and the waste that remains.
The work also speaks to Kia’s role as a cultural advocate, raising concerns about water quality at Gap Dam and the ongoing risks to health and environment from contamination. This painting is a response to disruption and a call to protect what remains.
