Leigh Oates

The painting is a representation of a midden. The sand and the sea are represented by the blue and yellow around the edge of the painting. This also represents Tasmania as an island, surrounded by water and coastline. The coastline is scattered with middens. The midden is made up of shells, bones, charcoal and discarded tools. Over time the midden has been built up in layers which is represented by the outward patterned lines around the shells and tools. The nine Tasmanian Aboriginal nations are also represented in this painting and are connected by deep roots, like the roots of plants which grow through the layered middens today.