AIONA FRANK GAIDAN | 'Sageraw Baydham' Linocut Print

Aiona Frank Gaidan, Sageraw Baydham, 2016, linocut print on paper, 113.5x200.2cm (image size), edition of 12 

"This print depicts my totem – the hammerhead shark. The hammerhead shark is important in our stories of cultural knowledge and is represented in dance. The dancer featured in the work is dancing the shark dance. I learnt this dance as a young boy and this is how I know the stories. During Sageraw Thonar it is hammerhead shark mating season. The sharks swim right along the shoreline waiting to feed, so you know not to go out swimming in this period. The stars featured in the work represent my 6 siblings and myself. There are 4 brothers and 3 sisters in my family. The stars also represent a constellation that we use on the headdress when we dance the shark dance. The markings on the border symbolize my family – the 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Along the top of the work are the different phases of the moon that occur across the season." 

Kala Lagaw Ya translation by Alick Tipoti

Inub zageth ngaw awgadh yaadu palgayk – Kursi. Inub baydham mina koey mina za ngoelmun ngulayg ika. Inub gidha umayk a yakamka girel iyab muynu. Ngaw palayzinga mabayg girel adhayk, baydhamaw girel yoewthayk. Ngoena ngurpadhin inub girel, ngay matha moegi kaazi. Sageraw thonarnu, kursil kazika gar yatharmik. Baydham ayka mina koey gathiyab, thawal ika amadhan tadayk, sa ni ngulayg nibeka maluka adhaka pawur ika lawnga. Thithuyil palayzinga inub zagethnu muynu thonar tidayzinga ngaw babthal a tukuypal, ngoey matha mura kud thonaral. Ngoey matha mura lak geth thonaral garkazil, a il geth thonaral yoepkazil. Thithuyil lak thonar tidayzinga zuguaw baydham ika ngoey yoewthayk girel kuyku zamiyakalnga. Mineral palayzinga ngaw buway – lak geth thonaral garkazil a il geth thonaral yoepkazil. Gimiya ngaw palalayzinga mura kisayl.

Please note: due to the size of this work, editions are printed on demand. Edition limited to 12 prints. Please allow time for printing, signing by the artist and dispatch to your destination.  

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