We are so thrilled to be launching a very special collaboration between leading Australian potters Robert Gordon x Juluwarlu. The forms and shapes of the collection are inspired by Yindjibarndi utility and function - old and new - with patterns inspired by Aunty Jane Cheedy's yaranga marni fine line works.Â
An 18-month process, the Robert Gordon team were so inspired by Jane's artworks that they created a whole new way to manufacture the product so to maintain the intricate line work of the original artworks. Of the ceramics, Juluwarlu artist Jane Cheedy says,
The ceramics look so fantastic. When I see the ceramics, I feel proud and uplifted. When I see them amazed and thankful because I have always looked at things like cups with artworks on them and thought they looked so great and wondered how could I get my artworks on something like that and wouldnât it be fantastic to have aboriginal art work on ceramics too, so to see my works on these beautiful ceramics is amazing. My family are also very proud and its fantastic to celebrate our Yindjibarndi culture with the rest of Australia. It makes our whole community empowered and it feels good to share through art.Â
As seen in The Design Files, Inside Out June 2023, Home Beautiful July 2023 and Houses Magazine July 2023.Â
Shop the Robert Gordon x Juluwarlu Collection exclusively at Myer.Â
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The story of the Jirriwi/Echidna
When Aboriginal people go hunting for an echidna, it usually curls up into a ball. The hunter says to the echidna, âI want to look at your scars!â The echidna will listen if you ask him âCan I have a look at your scars? Where are your scars?â It will then open itself up, then you can hit it with a stone on the scar on its chest until itâs dead.
Once this is done, the hunter can go into the shade, light a fire in a pit and throw the echidna in the fire.There are special rules about the echidna -whoever cooks it canât drink water until heâs finished cooking, or the echidna fat will turn to water. The tongue has to be pulled out and cut off. The two thyroid glands are cut off and thrown away and the belly cut out and thrown away. It is turned over in the fire. The hunter also has to sing a special song to make sure the spikes are removed. The echidna will then be smooth and fully skinned. It is cooked under hot ashes in the ground.
Young girls arenât allowed to eat the echidna, or when they get pregnant theyâll have a long and hard labour. Thereâs a song about the echidna in the Burndud.
Story from Juluwarluâs Gurruragan book by Lorraine Coppin.
