TOOGARR MORRISON

The year 2006, I, (Toogarr Morrison), A Bibbullmun Elder, have not had
any education but from 15 years ago started a journey of education
through art. I studied as a student, visual art at Curtin University and also at Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawler, completing a Masters by research. This comprised the
in-depth study of Traditional Bibbullmun indigenous art of the South
West of Western Australia.

Oil and Acrylic paintings were completed on canvas and which integrated
my cultural history and gave me a better personal informative view
before the invasion of our land by Angelo Saxons. In the Bibbullmun
Nation our way of living was eroded by an English way of seeing the
world, which was totally opposed from that of indigenous people. The
further I can understand my personal entity of culture, from spirits,
totems and religious belief of Mother earth and Father Wagle the great
water spirit, the more I can bring about an outcome of traditional
artistic equality in this contemporary world the indigenous people are
compelled to survive in. Which to my thinking does not make my art
contemporary but created in a traditional mode of my existence?

The whole concept of this incisive attitude of Traditional posture will
lead my art practise into a depth of a culture that the Angelo Saxons
believe has been eradicated in the South West through oppressive
policies that controlled the indigenous human but in no way the
indigenous spirit of the land.

My art can change the way Aboriginal Art is viewed by the Aboriginal as
well as the people who live in our bush or forest floors.

Toogarr Morrison
2006-05-31