Far North Queensland artist Kassandra Savage (right) explores love and companionship through the brolga alongside UMI Arts exhibition and gallery officer Aleksandra Kostic D. Photo: Supplied.
UMI Arts is celebrating 20 years of highlighting First Nations art and culture as it kicks off the 2025 exhibition season with the annual You & Me showcase.
Each year, the highly-anticipated display of creativity calls on member artists to share their family stories and traditions through acrylic.
Waanyi and Kurtijar artist Kassandra Savage took inspiration from the brolga after she fell in love with their unique dancing as a child.
“My inspiration comes from seeing them most of my life; I [believe] they’re very elegant and majestic birds,” she said.
“Their dancing is just amazing; I’ve been privileged enough to see them dancing on Country at times, and I recently learned that the brolga was my great-grandmother’s totem.”
Before starting on her three paintings for the exhibition, Ms Savage said she researched the story behind the dancing birds, and found that she could relate to the strong connection the species make when they mate.
“When I researched them, [I found out] they mate for life with the same partner, so I’ve used that in some of my inspiration for my paintings as well,” the artist said.
“My husband and I are celebrating 32 years of marriage this year, so that was an important thing to portray in my artwork.
“The other [painting] that I did represents him and I stronger together; when you have challenges in your life, for us it’s been great, because we’ve got each other to lean on, we get strength from each other, and we both also draw on our ancestors and their strength.”
Just like Ms Savage’s touching exploration of love through painting, exhibition and gallery officer Aleksandra Kostic D said this year’s exhibition showcased the poetic power of First Nations storytelling through art.
“Each piece in You & Me 2025 reflects unique family stories and cultural traditions, showcasing the diverse artistic expressions of Far North Queensland’s First Nations communities,” she said.
You & Me 2025 is open to the public until 24 April, and also features Cape York artists Esme Bowen, Wanda Gibson, Shane Gibson, Daisy Hamlot and Peter Kulla.
