Waterfairy hair IV

Lisa Michl Ko-manggén, Born: 1977 in Cairns, Queensland, Language Group: Kokotharpal, Clan Group: Kokoberrin

Area: Central Western Cape York Peninsula Homelands: Pinnarinch, Community: Cairns - Kowanyama – Normanton

Clan story place: Water Fairy, Totem Name: Ko-manggén

Title: Water fairy hair IV, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 91 x 45cm

Stretched

Water fairy hair

As a child my granny used to tell me the story of my totem place, Water Fairy. It is in our traditional homelands of Pinnarinch. Our families believe 'Two beautiful Aboriginal water fairies live at this sacred place. If you approach this place you need to do so very quietly. If the water fairies do not hear you, or see you coming, you may be lucky enough to see them sunning themselves on the rocks in the middle of the freshwater lagoon. They are said to have long black wavy hair, and wear body adornments, necklaces made of beads and headdresses made of Horn shells draped around their hairline'. In this artwork you can see their tiny scales, beads, and long stands of hair which they hold out above their heads when they are swimming in the ocean. The haircuts through the water which allows them to swim faster.