ELVERINA JOHNSON | 'Burriny (Saltwater)' | 2025 | Painted buoy using acrylic paint

“This orange one is called Burriny, which means Saltwater.

 In Yarrabah, our Country provides a little bit of everything. We have freshwater running down from the mountains and then saltwater right there in front of us. Growing up, the beach was where we spent most of our time.

We fished, camped, went swimming and gathered food, whatever our country would provide us. My family lived in a little tin shack on the beach, so the ocean was part of everyday life.

Some of my strongest memories are sitting on the beach with my mum and grandmother, listening to Country. That's how we learnt about where we were and how to care for the places that cared for us.

I love using bright colours, and the colours in this work remind me of those days by the water. Now I share those same places with my children and grandchildren, and that connection to Burriny is still as strong as ever today.”

ELVERINA JOHNSON | 'Burriny (Saltwater)' | 2025 | Painted buoy using acrylic paint | H 41cm x W 114 cm diameter mm