Acrylic on canvas
30x30cm, Framed
W is for Wadanggari (Dharug), commonly known as Saw Bankia, Old Man Banksia, or Banksia serrata if you’re feeling scientific. The iconic Wadanggari flowers contain a nectar that can be steeped in water to create a sweet drink, and the soft wood was used for tool making. When I moved to Australia from Aotearoa, I was deeply surprised that endemic plants were named after colonial explorers or given common English names, instead of the original, Aboriginal names that had been in use for tens of thousands of years. This work is part of an extended A-Z series exploring the diversity of Australian fire adapted flora, and learning and appreciating Aboriginal languages and plant lore.
Acrylic on canvas
30x30cm, Framed
W is for Wadanggari (Dharug), commonly known as Saw Bankia, Old Man Banksia, or Banksia serrata if you’re feeling scientific. The iconic Wadanggari flowers contain a nectar that can be steeped in water to create a sweet drink, and the soft wood was used for tool making. When I moved to Australia from Aotearoa, I was deeply surprised that endemic plants were named after colonial explorers or given common English names, instead of the original, Aboriginal names that had been in use for tens of thousands of years. This work is part of an extended A-Z series exploring the diversity of Australian fire adapted flora, and learning and appreciating Aboriginal languages and plant lore.
