Leon Russell Black

My paintings are about my country, my landscape, my culture, my family and the Tiwi people of Pirlangimpi and their way of life. In my paintings I speak about going fishing, hunting and gathering. Like going in the mangrove to collect Jukwarringa (Mud Mussels), Kurumpuka (Mud Crabs), Piranga (Long Bum) and Yuwurli (Mangrove Worms). I like going fishing: I am really good at seeing the ripples on the surface of the water, it tells me that the Miputuwi (fishes) are there, and I can spear them really good. The other day I got a really big Barramundi like that. I am a really good fisherman and hunter. My dreaming is Narringarri (Magpie Geese). From my father side my country is Jurrupi (Jessie River) – there are really big oysters there, and in the shallow waters we can get turtles and dugong also. When I was a little boy I went fishing, hunting, and goose shooting with my Dad, he is a really good skipper and I learnt from him. From my mother side my country is Yapalika (Maxwell Creek).