Entertainment
20 April, 2025
Natural inks form basis of lino prints
WITH an innovative style using natural inks from her land, Badu Island artist Matilda Nona has launched her exhibition of lino prints ‘Bupungu’ as CIAF’s first alumna of the CATAPULT professional development program.
NorthSite Contemporary Arts will be showcasing 13 prints by Ms Nona as result of the two-week Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) CATAPULT professional development program where she worked under the mentorship of master printer Dian Darmansjah to perfect the technique of using mangrove extract, mango juice, ochre and charcoal from the Torres Strait to create inks then used in her prints.
The exhibition, named ‘Bupungu’ will be displayed at the NorthSite gallery until May 21 and then will be presented at CIAF in July as part of the Art Fair Showcase at the Tanks.
“My work here is of lino prints and I’ve used ochres and mangrove plant extract to make ink and this is the first time I’ve put them to show,” Ms Nona said.
“I was inspired by rock paintings in caves at home and I started going into the bush and collecting plants, leaves, roots and I would boil them up and turn them into dyes. I started off dying sand and doing sand art but I’m a print maker and I want to use these as inks to print my works.
“With CATAPULT I was given the opportunity to work with whoever I wanted, and I decided to work with Dian and make these inks and prints happen.
“In my practice I do maternal stuff on women business and I also printed the mangrove so that people know that these inks come from the mangrove.
“I’ve just taken the step to be a solo artist and it’s been a short turnover and then got into CATAPULT and everything rushed in so I’m excited to be in CIAF this year, showcase my work, network and secure future exhibitions.”
For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/42cdO0N
