Wonder

I created this work by spraying watered charcoal out of my mouth over one of my own clay heat rocks. They’re fired river clay, like what our old people would use back in the day in the ground ovens or Mirrnyongs. According to Jack and the knowledge passed down by his mother, Mirrnyongs played a significant role in Aboriginal food technology and culture in Yorta Yorta Country. The Mirrnyongs used clay heating elements. Mirrnyongs were used to cook Murnong, a common root vegetable widely cultivated across Victoria. Unfortunately, due to colonisation and the introduction of cattle and sheep across Yorta Yorta Country rendered the Murnong virtually extinct. In 2016 Jack won the Indigenous Ceramic Award in collaboration with senior Kaiela artist Cynthia Hardie for their installation honouring this old practice, titled Midden. Jack’s work continues to honour Yorta Yorta history and practices. He says “I’m proud to be Yorta Yorta, more of our community need to know more about our people and how we lived and how we continue to live, we’re still here.” This print was created as part of Kaiela Arts 2026 Bupolga Collection with artwork by Jack Anselmi and screen-printing by Spacecraft and Tarn Parker. Medium: Hand printed silkscreen print, limited edition on archival Hahnemühle paper Size: 75 x 0 Catalogue No: JA-156-26-VE