As an artist, Luke Moodie has never locked himself into one medium or subject matter.
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He’s always let his art take him where it wants to go, or worked to commissions.
But in recent years Luke’s personal discoveries have had more of an influence on his art.
Luke’s mother Lisa Moodie recently discovered an ancestral line to the Boonwurrung First Nations people who are the traditional owners of the land from the Werribee River to Wilson’s Promontory.
This revelation prompted Luke to research the people, and experiment with their art styles as a way of connecting to the culture.
He’s created art pieces for family members, and more recently created one specifically for the Koorie Heritage Trust’s 11th annual Koorie Art Show.
It is currently on exhibition in Melbourne, and in a virtual art sales section on the KHT website, until the end of this month.
Called ‘Nairm’ - the indigenous name for Port Phillip Bay - the painting represents his cultural homeland and all the research about its people Luke has undertaken.
“This piece represents Nairm (Port Phillip Bay) and the Kulin Nation people. It tells a story of a time of chaos when the the law of Bundjil was broken.
“The sea was angry, and with rising water threatened to take their Country.
“The frightened people called on Bundjil to help them. He was very angry that his laws of Country had been neglected by the people.
“He instructed them back to law to keep the balance of nature and to not harm the land or the children.
“Bundjil stopped the waters of Nairm rising and we are left with what we know today as Port Phillip Bay.”
As well as experimenting with the look of his art, the indigenous influence has also encouraged Luke to experiment with materials.
“I’ve been drawing and creating art since I was quite young, painting walls, canvases, skate boards - whatever really.
“For this painting in particular I wanted to experiment with indigenous styles, and so I used ochre on canvas and line work- which is the traditional approach for the Boonwurrung.
Luke Moodie's painintg 'Nairm' (far left) is included in the Koorie Art Show at Federation Square.
“I’ve been learning about it, and just really feeling my way through organically.
“I’ve always been quite experimental with my art, and being a teacher allows me to do that a bit in the classroom too, but I only started using ochre last year.
“Our cultural heritage is very new to us, so I have really been enjoying exploring more and learning about our people.”
The Koorie Art Show is on exhibition until February 25 at the Birrarung Building at Federation Square.
People who attend in person, or view the virtual sales gallery, can vote for a people’s choice, which will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
To view the paintings, and to vote, go to koorieheritagetrust.com.au and follow the links to the Koorie Art Show exhibition page.
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