MATILDA NONA | 'Sigai' | Linocut / Natural Pigments

“This image depicts the Sigai - flying fish. The fish appears in November at the start of the monsoon season, you can hear the thunder and see the lightening but still no rain. During this time the sky is overcast like a big blanket covering, and we refer to this darkness as Dogai pudaizinga. Dogai is a woman witch. At this time the ocean waters are so calm and still, and you can see the dust floating on the surface of the ocean. It is the time of the Zugubaw, we call this the Zugubaw malu ya balthay maika, meaning, the spirits of the sky are sitting on top of the surface of the ocean. When you are in a boat, it is so still. When you look in you can see all the fish as if you are looking into an aquarium. This is the last time you will see this before the monsoon sets in. Sigai we also refer to as the samu feathers on one of our traditional headdress used for dancing purposes, mostly worn by men.”

MATILDA NONA | 'Sigai' | 2025 | Linocut / Natural Pigments | 57 (h) x 76 (w) cm