Matilda Nona

Matilda Nona brings together processes of relief printing and mono-printing, with traditional approach to ink making using fermenting mango juice, ochre, charcoal, plant and root extract from Badu Island in the Torres Strait Islands.

Matilda Nona’s art practice observes maternal ceremonies using imagery drawn from land and sea.

“I’m a Argun woman from Badu Island in the Maluligal sea country. My totem is the Thupmul (stingray) and the Koedal (crocodile). My wind is the Sagerr Gub (South Easterly).

I was drawn to printmaking through my father who was a wood carver which lead me to carving on vinyl. I started working with natural pigments and plant extracts, as means to reduce costs of getting commercial materials from mainland – this then lead me to create with natural pigments. I had a crazy idea if only I could turn ochres and plant extracts into my own signature inks and it would be significant to me, my people and my homeland. It would be like having a piece of Badu in your home."