Description
I am part of the Rainforest Bama or people. It struck me while writing my book “Reef and Rainforest: An Aboriginal Voice Through Art and Story” that Cairns is a City in a Rainforest because it is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Even though the rainforest has been largely cleared for this tropical city, it is still a city in a rainforest. The Council has a plan to make Cairns a City in a Garden with tree planting to create links with the remaining natural vegetation and establish wildlife corridors between the coastal areas and hill slopes. This is good but I think City in a Rainforest is a more apt description. I see myself as an ambassador for eco-cultural tourism in Far North Queensland Australia.
The gunyah or rainforest dwelling on the right and the shield and weapons on the left reflect the Bama people and their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The two black and one white face behind the shield represent the multicultural nature of Cairns. The dilly bag is used to collect fish and other food.
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions: 91cm x 91cm
