Rainforest shield (shark design) and sword 2000-01

Yidinyji man Michael Boiyool Anning is recognised as one of the leading Indigenous artists in Queensland to revive the tradition of making Big-uun (shields). The Yidinyji are renowned for their rainforest shields, swords and Nalan Gugal (firemakers), which distinguish them from other Indigenous groups.

Traditionally, the shields were made from the buttress roots of the rainforest fig tree. Anning shapes his shields by hand and decorates them with natural ochres and ash. The carvings incorporate many traditional designs based on ancestral totems, including the ‘boss’, which is located centrally and is said to provide additional protection during battle. Anning’s hybrid designs depict handheld fish nets, scorpions and snakes, and preserve and continue the tradition of shield-making in his community.