Luxe Lanyard, Two Worlds

Ailsa Walsh is an accomplished First Nations artist and storyteller, a proud Lardil, Kullili and Yuggera woman, currently residing on Yuggera Country (Queensland).

The inspiration for this piece is the connection between land and sea. More often than not, we see the land and sea as separate entities, but they’re much closer than they appear. As humans, there is plenty we can learn from their profound reliance on one another.

In the top left corner, fresh water and star constellations surround the sun. Emerging from the centre of the sun is the womb, representing the link between land and sea. The lines inside the womb signify signs of life and communication. In the bottom left corner, the ups and downs of nature are depicted. From natural disasters to human interruptions, the spirit of nature ebbs and flows, but it always finds a way to bounce back. When you move your eye to the centre of the painting, you’ll find the earth.

The earth houses layers that represent the depths of the oceans and rivers. To the left of these layers is the DNA of our animals, which sits slightly above coral stretching towards the light. The thick white line represents the purity and coexistence between land and sea. On the right side, you’ll find six cells that represent the building blocks of life. The yellow dots surrounding each cell represent our culture. In the far right corner, you’ll find a small star constellation reflecting off the ocean at night.

Each element reminds us that our culture and DNA are products of the land and sea that surround us.