Pot (Guiree story — flying fox twins story)

‘ .  .  .  [in] traditional tribal painting  .  .  .  in areas here around Weipa  .  .  .  the circle was a strong symbol and  .  .  .  the symbol of fire, the symbol of the world, the symbol of unity, the symbol of love, the symbol of mother. The circle is a very significant symbol in Aboriginal drawing, painting.’

– Thancoupie

The work of Thancoupie reveals a dynamic and continuous dialogue between traditional practices and the present day. The history and laws of her people are usually told through sand drawing and ceremonial performance. However, Thancoupie sees ceramics as a more permanent way to record these stories.

The story of the flying fox twins is of considerable significance to Thancoupie and she has used this story as the inspiration for decoration on numerous works. Pot (Guiree story — flying fox twins story) tells the story of two boys who broke the law by eating the forbidden meat of Guiree, the flying fox. Flying foxes flew down and placed the boys in the eastern sky. Whenever people look into the east, they will see the boys there to this day. This constellation is also known as the Gemini twins.

The circle is an important symbol for Thancoupie and many of her works, like this one, are spherical pots decorated with incised designs that flow around the pots in a circular motion. Often, the incised designs are emphasised using oxides to highlight the drawings of kangaroos, possums, emus and other characters that helped create the land around Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun and the coastal areas of Cape York.

In traditional Thainakuith culture, clay — which was baked into balls and stored to make paint for ceremonial body decoration — was considered sacred. Thancoupie’s use of clay to make ceramics is ‘untraditional’, but the stories she depicts are embedded in her knowledge of, and position within, the Napranum community where she was born.

 All stories
 

See also . . .

Learn about the artist Thancoupie.
Learn about the community of Napranum.