Grounded in Country: Meet Gomeroi Artist Caitlin Trindall

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Meet Gomeroi Artist Caitlin Trindall


INTERVIEWED BY TEAGAN KUM SING

EDITED BY LAURA HALL

25 SEPTEMBER 2024

Freedom March retracing Wave Hill Walk-off with people marching with Aboriginal flag

There’s nothing so fabulous as featuring our incredible collaborating artists! Today we're sharing a conversation with Gomeroi artist Caitlin Trindall. Currently travelling full-time across Australia in her van with her family while juggling her successful business, Mirii Art, she’s doing what many people dream of. We interviewed Caitlin about her new polo and fashion collection, Grounded in Country, and how she manages her family and career while on the road. 


Caitlin creates art inspired by her own life experiences and brings First Nations Culture and art into new spaces. She elegantly combines traditional symbols to share stories and messages with bright, vibrant colours to create a modern, contemporary feel. She is passionate about protecting and sharing Culture, and delivers creative workshops within the community, embedded with Cultural knowledge, to ensure Aboriginal knowledge and traditions are passed on to future generations. 


This interview has been edited for clarity. 


Vincent Lingiari, addressing the media after Prime Minister Gough Whitlam officially returns Aboriginal land at Wattie Creek, Northern Territory, August 1975.

What themes does this collection include?

Our Country deserves to be celebrated and honoured each and every day. Grounded in Country showcases elements of Country that remind me of some of my happiest moments. 

This collection represents a strong sense of connection to Country; our connection to the land, the water, the sky, our people, as well as the beautiful flora and fauna that share Country with us.

Is there a message you want to communicate with this?

Take time to appreciate all that Country has to offer. Ground your feet, breathe deeply, and allow yourself to tap into your senses and feel connected to Country. I want these pieces to be a conversation starter; for people to explore, learn and respect Country.

How did it feel to create these pieces?

Creating these pieces took me to my happy place. When I’m out on Country, camping among some of the most beautiful landscapes and making memories with my family and our friends. When I’m healing through the sun’s warmth, enjoying the sights of the flowers and fruits blooming, and resetting with every wave of water washing over me. 

This collection makes me feel grounded, centred, and at peace.

How do you want people to feel when they wear your clothing collection?

My hope is that people wearing these pieces will feel empowered and inspired. I’d like to think people wearing them will feel a sense of pride and connection, and radiate positive energy. I want them to feel the way I felt when I created them: grounded, centred and at peace.

The photo shoot for Grounded in Country was taken in Darwin. How was that experience?

I had the most wonderful day shooting my latest collection ‘Grounded on Country’ on Larrakia Country in Darwin! This was a new experience for me and I didn’t know what to expect. The photographer Harry was so easy to work with. 

And the models, Tiesha and Nyasha, were beautiful inside and out. It was such a full circle moment to be on the road with my family, working with the team to showcase my designs on a clothing range. Having Harry document such precious moments with my family is a memory I won’t ever forget. 
Steven holding his child smiling in front of a lake

Travelling & Grounding in Country

While living remotely, Caitlin balances her family life with managing her business. Travelling with her husband and young son is surely a challenge, but one worth taking on. 
 
We asked her some questions about her experiences travelling Country. Here, she gives us a little insight into her work/life balance. 

How did the idea to get on the road start?

We did a 4-month camping trip with our friends a couple of years ago. It was the most incredible and life-changing experience. 

We fell pregnant during that trip, and we always had in mind that we’d continue to travel and adventure with our little one. These experiences are so important to us, and we knew we wanted to instil these values with our son too. 

After lots and lots of conversations, planning, budgeting, and spreadsheets, we chose a date to leave and hustled to make it happen. We had to make big life changes and compromises to get to this point. But it’s so worth it to make our dreams a reality!

Do you have any goals for your trip?

First and foremost, my goal is to slow down and be fully present in my role as a Mum to our beautiful son, Jacob. In terms of Mirii Art, I am hoping to use this as an opportunity to elevate my business. 

I am constantly inspired by Country and my experiences travelling each day and I am loving creating new designs reflecting this. Think fresh, bright, summer vibes!

What it is like to travel with a baby?

Beautiful chaos haha.

Our son turned one the week before we left and we didn’t know what to expect. It took a couple of weeks on the road to get into a groove with a new routine. 

We have plenty of activities for him in the car. And when we stop, Country is his playground. He’s constantly on the go, climbing and chatting away all day long. 

It’s amazing watching him learn through this experience. We love doing life on the road with him.
Steven holding his child smiling in front of a lake

Where are you heading?

We started from home in Sydney (Warrane) and have made our way through Darwin (Gulumerrdgen) and towards Broome (Rubibi). We’ve given ourselves 6 months to play with, and we’re going with the flow, finding beautiful hidden gems each day. Who knows where we’ll end up next…

How do you manage your time and work on the road?

Being a business owner, I often find it hard to switch off from work. I’ve made a conscious effort on this trip to give myself ‘work-free time’ so I can enjoy precious moments with my family and friends. 

I do a lot of my admin and project work of an evening once my son is asleep. My online meetings take place anytime, anywhere; from riverbeds in remote bushlands to caravan parks, outback pubs, and roadside stops.

What moments inspire you to take time to paint, and where are you finding the most inspiration from?

Being a mixed media artist, a lot of the work I’m doing on the road is digitally designed with my iPad. My artworks are always inspired by Country, and I’m constantly inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the places I’m visiting.

I take time for ‘mindfulness moments’ on Country, and when I connect with a place that makes me feel grounded, or energised, or cleansed, that’s when I’m most inspired. I try to capture these moments and emotions in each of my artworks.

Travelling & Grounding in Country

Caitlin’s new clothing collection is already a best-seller. Check out her new four artworks inspired by her experiences, now available on polos, blouses, scarves, and more. Each sale in this collection pays royalties to Caitlin, supporting her career and creativity. 

Steven holding his child smiling in front of a lake

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