Embark on an enchanting journey through Subi East as the Noongar Six Season Markers come to life. Follow the winding Bidi Trail to encounter each of these magnificent sculptures, crafted by talented Noongar artists, each employing unique techniques and materials to embody the essence of the six seasons.
The Inspiration Behind the Sculpture
Lea Taylor’s Connection celebrates the Bibbulmun season of Djeran, which occurs between April and May and marks the transition from the intense heat of summer to cooler, rainy days. The piece highlights the ancient practice of cultural burning, which plays a crucial role in regenerating plants that provide food, materials for tools, and resources for shelter.
Through art, Lea emphasises the interconnectedness of community, culture, and nature. Her work invites viewers to reflect on the cyclical relationship between the land and the people who care for it, encouraging a deeper understanding of how traditional practices sustain both the environment and the community.
Symbolism in ‘Connection’
Lea’s sculpture features three vertical structures representing the community: Maarman (Man), Yorga (Woman), and Koorlangka (Child). These figures stand strong on boodjar (earth), embodying the unity and resilience of the community.
“Water, fire, regeneration, community, and the strength of us and culture standing strong, offering you, the viewer, an opportunity to reflect and learn as you journey along the Bidi,” says Lea Taylor.
The Creative Journey
Lea’s artistic process began with sketches which later informed her exploration of various forms using different modelling techniques and materials. She developed numerous models before settling on the final shape that encapsulates her vision.
Her experimentation with the casting of different woven structures, both open and closed, determined the best fit for her sculpture’s surface. The final work features three grouped teardrop-shaped sculptures of varying scales, each cast in aluminum. The convex side of each sculpture showcases an organic woven texture captured from Lea’s weaving, while the concave surface is polished smooth at the base and becomes less smooth toward the top, creating a lustrous, quicksilver-like effect.
About the Artist
Lea Taylor is a Wadandi, Menang, Goreng Bibbulmun yorga, with family connections to the Hill and Maher/Williams families. Her artistic influence began with her mother, who was an accomplished painter, writer, seamstress, and musician. As a child, Lea admired her mother’s creativity but lacked the confidence to create her own art.
Finding Her Passion
Lea started with painting, she then discovered her passion for coiling (weaving) and making Booka (kangaroo skin cloaks), which soon led to her art practice flourishing.
As a self-taught weaver and artist, Lea explores technique and style using both traditional and contemporary materials, including found objects such as bones, quills, and feathers. This unique approach highlights the beauty in what is often discarded or returned to Country.
Cultural Influence and Inspiration
Lea draws inspiration from Indigenous Master Weavers and Artists like Yvonne Koolmatrie, Ellen Trevorrow, and Judith Watson, whose work Lea’s has been likened to. She strongly believes that her ancestors guide her to create in a culturally respectful way, making her artwork the artefacts of tomorrow.
Photo: Frances Andrijich