Debbie Scott

DEBBIE SCOTT ARTIST BIO & ARTWORK STORIES

I am a self-taught contemporary Aboriginal artist. I draw under the name of Yuluwirree (Yoo-loo-weary) which is Aboriginal for Rainbow. I am a descendant of Ugurupul Peoples of Ipswich on my mothers side and Nughi (who are now part of Quandamooka – Saltwater People of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) on my father’s side.

My passion is doing my artwork in pen and ink on Italian linen paper. I also enjoy using acrylics for colour. My inspiration comes from having pride in my culture and how it explains the mysteries of God. We believe that our way of life is to be one with animals, people, nature and to be absolute one with the land. I have enjoyed sharing stores through my artworks since 1988. One of my favourite ventures with my art was having the opportunity through the Ipswich City Council, to be invited in a cultural exchange to China. Being with other artists from around the world made me realise how unique Australian Aboriginal Art is viewed, it is with reverential awe and respect. My artwork is a means of education I use to share a culture that continues to this day and is notable to all Australians.

WOMENS JOURNEY (BRIGHT PINK ARTWORK):

This artwork represents the journey of life for women. The small circle shows a little girl…her life is just beginning so the experiences are new.

The next circle is a little larger in size, depicting a teenager/young adults. The circles around are the many activities and experiences she will have during her young life. The arches are the many doors she will pass through such as school, employment and the many ‘firsts’ in her journey.

The larger circle is the mature woman. The doors she passes through e.g. The coming of age, career, marriage, children. The experiences are many and varied.

SEAHORSE:

The seahorse is quite a unique creature and is thought to have mystical significance among the Torres Strait Island Peoples. It is believed that the seahorse signifies patience, protection, perspective and persistence. The seahorse is said to bring goodluck.

PLATYPUS:

Aboriginal Dreamtime story tells us that the platypus originated when a young female duck fell in love with a lonely water rat. Platypus totem symbolises tolerance, acceptance of differences and wisdom in being different.

BARRAMUNDI (DARK BLUE BACKGROUND):

Dreamtime legend tells of the barramundi (Daiwul) leaping from the water to escape the women who were trying to trap them in the river. As it scraped past the hills their scales were release and they became diamonds that are found in the Kimberly Mountain Range.

STINGRAYS (WATERCOLOUR BACKGROUND):

These graceful creatures symbolise knowledge of the lore beneath the top surface of the sea. Non-aboriginals may find such thinking poetic, metaphoric and symbolic, but in aboriginal traditional knowledge this a fundamental truth and lore.

UNKNOWN TITLE (COLOURFUL PRINT WITH HAND):

I am a decendent of Ugarapul from Ipswich on my mother’s side... my Great Grandfather a Mughi man was born on Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) off Brisbane. They moved the aborignal people from there to the closest mission which was on Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) called Myora Mission at which my fathers’ father was born. The three tribes Nughi/Nunnuccle & Goenpul have come together to form Quandamooka. I relate more to my Saltwater People because my spirit feels more at peace near the sea. I was born and educated in Ipswich but now live on Bribie Island (Yarin).

TOTEMS (GECKO/LIZARD BLACK AND WHITE):

Aboriginal totems are inherited by members of a tribe/clan or family as their spiritual emblem. Totems define peoples roles and responsibilities and their relationships with each other and creation. The aboriginal connection to their totems explains the mysteries of god as they believe that the way of life is to be one with animals, people, nature and to be absolute one with the land.

QUANDAMOOKA (TURTLE AND HANDPRINT ARTWORK ON BLACK BACKGROUND):

Nughi of Mulgumpin, Nunuccul and Gorenpul Minjerribah come together as Quandamooka. The ‘Saltwater People’ have lived near the sea for thousands of years, first encountering Europeans in 1799. The ‘Saltwater People’ descendants still to this day maintain the culture through song, dance, art and experiences such as fishing. The ‘Saltwater People’ travel regularly throughout Quandamooka land and sea caring for Country.

RAINFOREST SONGLINES (GREEN SWIRLS ARTWORK):

Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples environment provided everything spiritually, identity, social order, shelter, food and medicine. They had an economic system in place that involved the bartering of resources amongst different tribal groups. This artwork shows the well-worn paths of their travels over the thousands of years of practised traditional customs prior to European settlement.

RED CENTRE SONGLINES (RED SWIRLS ARTWORK):

Songlines are the aboriginal walking routes that crossed country linking important sites and locations. They were maintained by regular use, burning off and clearing. Many major highways across Australia were once Aboriginal walking routes. The term ‘songlines’ describes the features and directions of travel that were put to song, that was a musical map making it easier to memorize (aboriginal culture does not have written records). The songs were sung to children, passing the information on to generations. Communication in Australian Aboriginal culture has always been song, dance, and art.

SALTWATER SONGLINES (BLUE SWIRLS ARTWORK):

Songlines within the aboriginal culture, link memories to landscapes/seascapes/mythology and stories. It is an extraordinary memory technique that reinforces itself as aboriginal people did not have written records. Saltwater songlines are aboriginal routes linking important sites and locations, fishing areas, dangerous reefs, sandbars etc.

Saltwater songlines describes the direction and features of travel that were included in a song that was sung and memorised enabling the traveller to reach their destination.

AFTER THE RAIN – RED CENTRE WILDFLOWERS:

There are 767 species of flora, some of which can be found near springs, waterholes and gorges that provide shelter and relief from the arid climate. Many plants and flowers have played part in aboriginal traditions for thousands of years for medicines, weapons as well as food and clothing.

GUMLEAF (LINEWORK WITH RED DETAILS):

A symbol of the many and varied uses of the plant life Australian Aboriginal Peoples utilized…medicines/food/shelter/weapons and music etc.

FISH (WITH BLUE WAVES):

In traditional aboriginal culture you are given a totem representative of animal/bird/plant from your clan/tribe or family.

The fish totem allows us to connect to the mysteries of the water and all that it holds beneath the surface.

STINGRAYS (WITH BLUE WAVES):

These graceful creatures symbolise knowledge of the lore beneath the top surface of the sea. Non-aboriginals may find such thinking poetic, metaphoric and symbolic but in the aboriginal traditional knowledge this is a fundamental truth and lore.

DUGONG (WITH BLUE WAVES):

In traditional aboriginal culture you are given a totem representative of animal/bird/plant from your clan/tribe or family.

The dugong as a totem animal, gives us several inspirational lessons. One is transparency and a clear vision of our surroundings. They dwell in clear waters that enable them to see their enemies or friends. They are a peace keeping animal.

TURTLE (WITH BLUE WAVES):

In traditional aboriginal culture you are given a totem representative of animal/bird/plant from your clan/tribe or family.

The turtle appears in many Dreamtime stories and Creation Myths. They are a favoured food source for aboriginal communities and are celebrated in rituals that aim to increase the bounty of the species.

KWILENA – DOLPHIN:

The dolphin was one of the most resourceful to the tribes and even had a special connection with every Quandamooka person, no matter what tribe. The men would go out to the ocean and stand knee deep, they would then clap their spears to attract the dolphins. The dolphins would then come swimming towards the men while herding many fish to the gutters. Once the fish were near the men, they would catch them using nets. Once the men were satisfied with the amount of fish, they needed they would give the leftover fish to the dolphins as thanks. The special connection with the dolphins and the Quandamooka people is a very clear indication of the mystery of God.

God has provided us with so many smart and useful creatures, such as the dolphin that has helped the Quandamooka people gather foods for many years.

SALTWATER SONGLINES (SEASHELL & WAVES ARTWORK):

Songlines within the aboriginal culture, link memories to landscapes/seascapes/mythology and stories. It is an extraordinary memory technique that reinforces itself as aboriginal people did not have written records.

Saltwater songlines are the aboriginal routes linking important sites and locations, fishing areas, dangerous reefs, sandbars etc.

Saltwater songlines describe the direction and features of travel that were included in a song that was sung and memorised enabling the traveller to reach their destination.