Jennifer Rowe ‘Seven Sisters Over Iluka’

Jennifer Kooroo Rowe is a descendent of the Trawlwoolway people from the North East coast region of Tasmania. Jennifer’s arts practice includes installations incorporating multiple natural elements, smaller scale sculptural works, jewellery and painting. She draws from the natural world and incorporates cultural practices to create contemporary artworks that explore survival and celebrate culture. Her work is aimed at illuminating the environmental status of country and promoting the identity and cultural practises of First Nations people.

The artwork is called ‘Seven Sisters Sky over Iluka’. The Star Dreaming story of the Seven Sisters is one of the most widely distributed ancient stories amongst Aboriginal Australia. The songline for this story covers more than half the width of the continent, from deep in the Central Desert out to the coast. The songline travels through many different language groups and different sections of the narrative are recognised in different parts of the country. The story relates to the journey of the seven sisters that make up the star cluster known as the Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus. Mythological stories of the Pleiades also cross many other cultures outside Australia – the story also appears in ancient Greek mythology.

Acrylic on canvas.
60cms x 50cms.