Gulf Country artist Shenane Jago debuts solo exhibition My Country of the Norgin with UMI Arts

A Far North artist will debut her first solo exhibition made of unique ceramic interpretations of crocodile heads and turtle shells. Read what inspires her.

A FAR North artist will debut her first solo exhibition made of unique ceramic interpretations of crocodile heads and turtle shells.

Gulf Country artist Shenane Jago will hold her exhibition My Country of the Norgin at UMI Arts’ Jensen Plaza Gallery for the next month.

“My art is largely inspired by the environment, colours, and animals that make up my country,” Ms Jago said.

“My country is beautiful and wild. Food sources are respected and treated with pride, and as a part of country.”

Kurtijar artist Shenane Jago is exhibition ready – her artworks will be presented in a solo exhibition at UMIArts opening next month and will run until the end of October 2022. Picture: Supplied.

The title Norgin is the word crocodile in the Kurtijar language which goes back to Ms Jago’s homeland.

Ms Jago said the exhibition would provide a story about her home at Normanton in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

“I wish to give people a taste of the country in the Gulf where I am from and grew up,” she said.

The creative idea to make interpretations of crocodile heads and turtle shells came from her fishing trips.

Kurtijar artist Shenane Jago is exhibition ready with her creative ideas to make interpretations of crocodile heads and turtle shells.

“Every time I go fishing I pick up croc skulls on the river bank and do the same with turtle shells,” she said.

“I use them as a mould for my pottery.”

Umi Arts Exhibitions officer Robyn Pacey said the exhibition had a large collection of 45 newly created Raku-fired ceramic works.

The technique used goes back to the ancient Japanese ceramic technique all the way back to the 16th century.

A piece by Kurtijar artist Shenane Jago on display next month until the end of October 2022. Picture: Supplied

“We are very excited to present Shenane’s talent and artwork in a dedicated exhibition that features so many wonderful and colourful ceramic interpretations of crocodile heads and turtle shells,” she said.

While Ms Jago has been an artist for around 10 years, she was excited to go on an adventure of creating her first solo exhibition through the UMI Arts 2022 Exhibition Ready program.

She worked closely with Deb Eldermire of The Pottery Place in Cairns to develop her work.

The exhibition opens on Friday and will run until October 31.

Originally published as Gulf Country artist Shenane Jago debuts solo exhibition My Country of the Norgin with UMI Arts