TRAPS, TACKLE AND GEAR
‘Gone Fishing’
From inland freshwater regions to the ocean and islands of the Torres Strait, there are many specifically engineered tools and methods for catching a feed. These multifunctional objects are represented through cultural objects, paintings, sculptures and installation. The artworks here speak to the practical nature of fishing and include a range of spears, canoes and nets.
An installation of woven fish traps from the Maningrida region (Arnhem Land, Northern Territory) demonstrates regionally specific techniques that were perfected by hundreds of generations of the artists’ ancestors, bespoke to each environment and species of food source. Here, they are also celebrated as uniquely modelled forms of aesthetic beauty.
![Sally Garrimarra / Ganalbingu people / Australia, b.1967 / Fish trap 2004 / Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes / 93 x 32cm (irreg.)A: (irreg.) 93 x 32 cm / Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Accession No: 2004.206 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Sally Garrimarra/Copyright Agency A cropped installation view of five woven fish traps made in varying earth-tones.](/system/files/styles/wide/private/2023-04/2004.206_002_front%20right_AM%20%281%29.jpg?itok=cmBKCdJe)
Installation view including five pandanus works: Fish trap 2004 and Fish trap 2004 (Sally Garrimarra / Ganalbingu people / Australia, b.1967 / Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / © Sally Garrimarra/Copyright Agency) and Shirley Malgarrich’s (Burarra/Anbarra peoples / Australia b.1947) Jina-bakara (fish trap) 2004 (Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / © Shirley Malgarrich), Fish trap 2004 and Fish trap 2004 (Purchased 2004. The Queensland Government's special Centenary Fund / © Shirley Malgarrich) / All works Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / Photograph: Natasha Harth, QAGOMA
Sculptural fish and yabbie traps by Mandandanji artist Laurie Nilsen cleverly use discarded materials to create functional devices. Upcycled pedestal fans, chicken wire and even Sunlight soap were, according to the artist, all you needed to catch a feed — before the traps themselves became congested with more debris than food. Here, Nilsen has invoked images of a disposable lifestyle, overrun with plastic and endangering the natural environment.
These diverse sculptural works are complemented with paintings by senior artist Regina Pilawuk Wilson, who meticulously charts the geometric forms of woven netting onto canvas, illustrating delicate and geometric perspectives to these sturdy objects.
Objects included in ‘Traps, tackle and gear’:
![© Sally Garrimarra/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.206_002_front%20right_4.jpg?itok=N1FdrAyM)
Fish trap 2004
- GARRIMARRA, Sally - Creator
![© Sally Garrimarra/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.207_002_centre_4.jpg?itok=AqTz2_kF)
Fish trap 2004
- GARRIMARRA, Sally - Creator
![© Rex Greeno Artwork Ningher (reed canoe) this artwork made of Reeds (Phragmites australis) and hand-rolled string made from seagrass cord and jute twine; wood, created in 2020-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2021.292.001-007_001.jpg?itok=CE_tXoqo)
Ningher (reed canoe) 2020
- GREENO, Rex - Creator
![© Lorna Jin-Gubarangunyja/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2003-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.040_005.jpg?itok=GExcQATC)
Fish trap 2003
- JIN-GUBARANGUNYJA, Lorna - Creator
![Yvonne Koolmatrie Artwork Eel trap this artwork made of Coil-woven sedge grass, river rushes, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.182_001_3.jpg?itok=7UTXU7tj)
Eel trap 2007
- KOOLMATRIE, Yvonne - Creator
![Yvonne Koolmatrie Artwork Eel trap this artwork made of Coil-woven sedge grass, river rushes, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.184_001_3.jpg?itok=iPaUqLuG)
Eel trap 2007
- KOOLMATRIE, Yvonne - Creator
![Yvonne Koolmatrie Artwork Yabbie trap this artwork made of Coil-woven sedge grass, river rushes, created in 2008-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.183_002_3.jpg?itok=zxSU2W18)
Yabbie trap 2008
- KOOLMATRIE, Yvonne - Creator
![© Kathleen Korda Artwork Walipun (Fish net) this artwork made of Looped merrepen (Sand palm) fibre, natural dyes with bamboo, created in 2008-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2009.130_001_4.jpg?itok=uF0pTefw)
Walipun (Fish net) 2008
- KORDA, Kathleen - Creator
![© Joey Laifoo Artwork Pearling days this artwork made of Colour linocut on paper, created in 2002-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.242_001_5.jpg?itok=FGFnJluM)
Pearling days 2002
- LAIFOO, Joey - Creator
![© Shirley Malgarrich/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.037_002_back%20right_5.jpg?itok=ZNE1NXdV)
Fish trap 2004
- MALGARRICH, Shirley - Creator
![© Shirley Malgarrich/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.038_002_back%20left_4.jpg?itok=6mALVUZf)
Fish trap 2004
- MALGARRICH, Shirley - Creator
![© Billy Missi Estate Artwork Dhangal um ariak this artwork made of Screenprint, hand-coloured on paper, created in 2000-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2006.169_001_4.jpg?itok=m4OE7aCy)
Dhangal um ariak 2000
- MISSI, Billy - Creator
![© Ninney Murray Artwork Wungarr (eel trap) this artwork made of Twined lawyer vine, created in 2005-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2006.031_001_4.jpg?itok=9fO3ZW6_)
Wungarr (eel trap) 2005
- MURRAY, Ninney - Creator
![© Mary Nalmakarra/Copyright Agency Artwork Fish trap this artwork made of Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis) with natural dyes, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.039_001_4.jpg?itok=AqJR1zU1)
Fish trap 2004
- NALMAKARRA, Mary - Creator
![Two Works in Image - Once were Fishermen I is the bottom work Artwork Once were Fishermen I this artwork made of Barbed wire, wire mesh, enamel paint, food packaging and household debris, created in 2014-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2020.050a-_2020.051_23-02_1.jpg?itok=gMw3L_83)
Once were Fishermen I 2014
- NILSEN, Laurie - Creator
![Two Works in Image - Once were Fishermen II is the top work Artwork Once were Fishermen II this artwork made of Wire mesh, bicycle tyre frames, PVC piping, cable ties, netting, food packaging, created in 2014-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2020.050a-_2020.051_23-01_0.jpg?itok=0_6aLyPv)
Once were Fishermen II 2014
- NILSEN, Laurie - Creator
![© Laurie Nilsen Estate Artwork Baited this artwork made of Fan covers, enamel paint, electrical wire and Sunlight soap, created in 2010-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-05/2021.390a-i_23-01.jpg?itok=Po049gLi)
Baited 2010
- NILSEN, Laurie - Creator
![© Indra Prudence/Copyright Agency Artwork An-gujechiya (Fish trap) this artwork made of Twined jungle vine (Malaisia scandens), created in 2006-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2007.042_002.jpg?itok=LtUAvSpk)
An-gujechiya (Fish trap) 2006
- PRUDENCE, Indra - Creator
![© Courtesy the artist and Moa Arts Artwork All kind fish 2/8 this artwork made of Monoprint on Hahnemüle paper, created in 2022-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2022.222_23-01_0.jpg?itok=3pmTEasa)
All kind fish 2/8 2022
- SAVAGE, Paula - Creator
![© Courtesy the artist and Moa Arts Artwork All kind fish 8/8 this artwork made of Monoprint on Hahnemüle paper, created in 2022-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2022.223_23-01_0.jpg?itok=Rz-lbUln)
All kind fish 8/8 2022
- SAVAGE, Paula - Creator
![Ken Thaiday Sr Artwork Weris (Fish scoop) this artwork made of Bamboo and cotton cord, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.183_001_3.jpg?itok=PPlNo1EF)
Weris (Fish scoop) 2004
- THAIDAY Sr, Ken - Creator
![© Ken Thaiday Sr Artwork Whaleboat this artwork made of Painted timber, twine, cloth, metal hooks, nylon line, beads, created in 2014-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2017.393_001.jpg?itok=HFTr0H8V)
Whaleboat 2014
- THAIDAY Sr, Ken - Creator
![Rosie Ware Artwork Sea of Plenty this artwork made of Commercial cotton fabric, block printed, created in 2010-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2011.143_001_4.jpg?itok=ReM-i8Vo)
Sea of Plenty 2010
- WARE, Moilang (Rosie) - Creator
![Regina Pilawuk Wilson/Copyright Agency Artwork Syaw (Fish net) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2004-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.175_002.jpg?itok=lszlC24b)
Syaw (Fish net) 2004
- WILSON, Regina Pilawuk - Creator