First Nations Representation through Lining

First Nations Art to Fabric Collaboration - Tarragó, Numina and Ludlows

The Project Background

Avelina Tarragó, a proud Wangkamahdla woman from central-west Queensland who grew up in Meeanjin (Brisbane), now a Barrister, wanted “to be shrouded in culture during formal legal ceremony and to include Culture and Cultural acknowledgement in formal legal settings”.
Ludlows Legal Regalia Brisbane manager Pia Bardine, an active supporter of First Nations culture, was keen to explore the possibility of this concept – the first of its kind worldwide in formal Legal Regalia. Together Avelina and Pia sought to produce custom fabric for use as lining in formal Court Uniform.
In partnership with Ludlows Legal Regalia, the purpose of this project is to raise acknowledgement and awareness of First Nations culture within the professional network, and extend engagement opportunities to First Nations professionals in the legal profession.
“For this project, we worked within a strict uniform protocol to offer a significant change in First Nations cultural expression, visibility and representation opportunity in a highly restricted context.” said Pia Bardine, Queensland Ludlows Manager.

Avelina’s middle name, Yuwea, means “first rain of the season”, a name given by her maternal grandmother, a Wangkamahdla Elder. Her dreaming story is a water dreaming story and so the meaning within the piece has a deep personal as well as a greater cultural significance for her. Through her skin (or moiety) connection via her mother, Avelina selected Louise Numina’s art for her chambers, home and this project. The “Water Soakage” motif was selected for its inherent significance in Aboriginal and First Nations culture.

Water Soakage – Louise Numina Napananka “It’s about survival – finding water in the desert. You look for the patterns in the creek beds and the rock crevices and especially if there are birds flying around, if you dig there the water will be there , pure and ready to drink.”

Jodi Curnow-Baker, manager and artist liaison for the project said “We had a very careful research and consultation process to ensure the understanding of the artwork’s meaning and how it was going to be applied in this new way. We ensured Louise Numina understood, agreed and supported the concept and then we had to ensure the correct protocol and consultation was followed to comply with the formal legal regalia requirements.”

“The lining facilitates culture in a significant garment in a subtle and appropriate manner without detracting from the formal purpose of the jackets. We can choose custom linings – this lining is an opportunity to wear one with specific intention and meaning”, said Avelina.

Avelina’s intention was to launch the project in connection with Naidoc Week 2-9 July 2023 “For Our Elders”.

The Lining Design and Donation Process

The Artwork Choice

The “Water Soakage” motif was selected for its inherent significance in Aboriginal and First Nations Culture, as well as the personal significance to Avelina. Water is one of the necessary conditions for all forms of life, it is important to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike for environmental, economic and cultural purposes.

In terms of Aboriginal culture “Water is essential to Aboriginal culture and lore both in life and spiritual practice, cannot be separated from other elements and exists in all parts of life and culture , water is a shared essential resource for life , there is a shared essential need for access . Water is a community resource and cannot be just for one person or individual”.

Prints and original paintings are available to purchase via Ludlows Brisbane and Raintreeart.

The Fundraising Strategy

Ludlows intends to raise funds to assist First Nations legal practitioners in Australia with the cost required when coming to the Bar, including Robes and Legal Regalia in general.

$165 from each sale of the First Nations Lining ($200 per Jacket/Vest) will be distributed from Ludlows quarterly to three existing trusts supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands Barristers, namely the Indigenous Barristers’ Trust (Vic), the Indigenous Barristers’ Trust – The Mum Shirl Fund (NSW) and the Mullenjaiwakka Trust (Qld).

A portion of the sales from the artwork prints and paintings will be donated to this project. Donations can also be made directly to the Trusts above – contact us for more details.

More About the Collaborators

Avelina was admitted to the profession in 2009 and called to the Bar in 2017, as one of two First Nations women at the Bar. Avelina is a Barrister located at North Quarter Lane Chambers, a Member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and a board member of Legal Aid Queensland.

She is a member of a number of different legal policy committees relating to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, and gives her time and expertise selflessly to countless organisations. Before going to the private Bar, she was a Federal Prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, worked for the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, was a Senior Legal Officer for the Office of the Health Ombudsman and Counsel Assisting in the Coroners Court of Queensland.

Avelina is also a sessional lecturer at QUT for the Legal Practice Course on the topic of Cross-Cultural Communication.

Louise is one of the celebrated Numina sisters, whose bold, confident, and colourful paintings are enjoyed in homes throughout Australia and all over the world. Her sisters are Sharon, Selina, Caroline, Jacinta and Lanita – and each highly regarded Aboriginal Artists in their own right.

Louise, her sisters and two brothers, are the children of Barbara Pananka Price and the late Douglas Petyarre, and it was two of Douglas’ sisters – the internationally-renowned Aboriginal Artists Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre – who taught their nieces to paint the Bush Medicine Leaf ceremony (Aunty Gloria) and Thorny Lizard Dreaming (Aunty Kathleen).

The Numina Sisters are also the great nieces of Emily Kngwarreye and Kudditji Kngwarreye, who along with Minnie Pwerle and Ada Bird Petyarre, are the most internationally acclaimed artists of the Aboriginal Art Movement of the Utopia Aboriginal Lands of the Eastern Desert that emerged in the 1970s.

Louise’s paintings have been widely exhibited throughout Australia, and in August 2017, couture designer Pia du Pradal launched a range of ‘resort wear’ featuring Louise’s Bush Medicine Leaf design at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Brisbane.

She has also enjoyed ‘going viral’ on social media – registering literally millions of views of the hypnotic videos of her creating her stunning ‘Bush Medicine Leaves’ paintings. While Louise makes the painting of the bush medicine leaves look effortless, it is her talent, confidence and joy in bringing the story to life that inspires her to “keep our culture strong”.