Tara Butterworth

Wagiman Woman

MARLIMARLI (Tara-Rose Butterworth-Gonebale)

“My name is Tara-Rose and I’m proud Wagiman woman. My family are from the Northern Territory but I was born and raised in the Western Suburbs of Naarm.

My artwork tells stories of my life and my connection to culture and family.”

@marlimarli_

Artworks

Ngal-gawu” Grandmother (Mothers Mum)

When I was 8 years old I lost my nan. She played a massive role in shaping who I am today, along with my siblings. When she passed, my sister was just a boorai. One day while outside playing in the garden she pointed up at a passing butterfly and said “Nanny”.

Ever since then, butterflies have surround us in specific moments. Hard times and good times, I can always trust a butterfly will flutter passed me. I believe it's my Nan reminding me to be strong, stay resilient and stay grounded.

Our elders play such a huge role in our community. I wanted this piece to reflect the most important elder in my life and her guidance from the dream time for me and my siblings, while also acknowledging the elders still with us, who fight alongside our communities everyday, paving the way for the next generations.

Strong Community

I created this version of the flag a few years ago when our people didn’t have the rights to the flag, and wanted to create something that to me and my family represented strength and community.

Cultural Values

These piece represents some of the important cultural values we as Aboriginal people hold Cultural Pride, Cultural Practice, Family, Songlines and Dance, the land and the Animals.

Wave the Flag

A piece from the Cultural Values set, this image refers to a person's Cultural Pride. When I was creating this piece I was thinking about different scenes where you might see a huge display of cultural pride from our people; I took inspiration for this image from a photograph taken at a NAIDOC March in Naarm (Melbourne).

Deadly Blak-Fella

This piece was a fun twist on the flag, repping the flag colours and who might be wearing it- someone real deadly! It’s about cultural and self pride.

Fire Within

NAIDOC Week 2024

This year's theme “Keep the Fire Burning- Blak, Loud & Proud” asks us to listen to the fire within that ignites our instinctive protection of our history, culture and identity. The voices that guide us from the dreaming, encouraging us to continue the fight our ancestors started for our survival.

As we move through generation to generation, we keep that fire burning. We keep the conversation going, we keep marching, we keep forcing our way in for that seat at the table. For them, for us and those following our footsteps.

My artwork speaks to that fire within and how we use it to push for change, and our peoples' freedom.