810-24 – Nyirla Area – TOSSIE BAADJO

Artist : TOSSIE BAADJO
Title : Nyirla Area
Size/Medium : 460 x 360mm; Acrylic on canvas Painting
I was born in the bush. I started walking with my families taking me around. I was left with my sister because i was still drinking milk. (Minky Minky) When she left me I saw a dingo coming then I saw my father running towards me. I thought that dingo was going to eat me, but the dingoes were looking after me. I walked and walked from sand dune to sand dune, no shade, no water we had to dig a hole. Another mob was waiting in the swamp. My sister Josephine was waiting for us. They were talking about which way people got to go. Some families went to jigalong and Kintore, some to Bidyadanga and me and my family came to Balgo. We had to walk and walk with no shade. We came to c25 towards Mulan. We saw a star pointing towards Balgo Christmas Day, We saw a priest. We thought he was a ghost and we were frightened. From there they took me to the dormitory and moved to new Balgo and saw my uncle painting and I asked what he was painting and he said country. He showed me a painting of where I came from and where I was born so I started doing painting then. I was also told to always do my own painting and never copy anyone else.