Gather your little learners onto a yarning space that honours the longest surviving Indigenous culture in the world. This set of six round rugs, designed by proud Mandandanji and Noonuccal artist Kiz Costelloe, brings the Noongar six seasons — Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang — into your learning environment. Each rug is a place-based provocation for sustained shared thinking, supporting EYLF Outcome 2 and NQF Quality Area 3 by embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into every-day practice. Certificate of authenticity included.
Story behind the artworks.
Birak — the red colours and fire flames I've used in this design represent the weather starting to warm up, which indicates the time of year that the Noongar people start burning country.
Bunuru — I have incorporated the white flowers within this design to represent the white flowers that are in full bloom at this time of year. The orange colours surrounding the flowers depict the hottest time of the year.
Djeran — I have used the colour green, as this is the colour that represents this time of year. The weather becomes a bit more cool and damp, ready for the rainy winter months coming.
Makuru — the leaves I've illustrated in correlation with the cool blue tones symbolise the wind change and the coming of the rain which fill the waterways with life.
Djilba — this design and the pink colours were inspired by the flowers that are in full bloom at this time of year. The rich and bright colours start to fill the land and make the warmer weather more evident.
Kambarang — I chose this particular shape in this piece as this season brings out the snakes. The yellow colours represent the yellow flowers that begin to blossom.
