My Uncle, ‘Dad’ Laurie Nona by Ella Nona

My Uncle, ‘Dad’ Laurie Nona

Ella Nona | Year 11

I chose to interview my ‘Dad’, Laurie Nona. He is my uncle from my mum’s side. This is his story. Name: Laurie Nona Snr. Occupation: Councillor of Badu Island, artist, art centre manager.

Q. Who/What has inspired you to be an artist?

A. I was never inspired to be an artist when I was younger, it was just something that came naturally. My uncles, older brothers, and brothers-inlaw would tell me stories as a young boy, and I would paint little images in my head from these stories I was told growing up.

Q. Who was influential in your early life who has shaped the person you are today?

A. My mum, Aka Rita Nona (deceased).

Q. Why do you create art?

A. Today, I create art to document my life and life experiences. It is a message to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren for when I won’t be here anymore; I will still be alive in my artwork. It also works therapeutically and helps me relax.

Q. What does your beach Koedal mean to you and why did you call it Koedal?

A. Koedal means family, culture, and island life. It was always called Koedal. Athe Walter (deceased) told me it was called Koedal. Koedal means crocodile. Everybody else called it Kudul and I had to correct them. Athe Walter said it’s not Kudul, it’s called Koedal. This is because there’s a stone that looks like a crocodile. When I saw the stone, I realised it does look like a crocodile. There’s a myth and legend story attached to the stone.

Q. What type of art do you create?

A. I create any type of art and I love all art mediums. I mainly do lino, but I also paint on canvases and can do screen printing, sketching, lithograph, and monoprinting. The motto ‘anything goes’ is what I go by, as long as it’s art, I can do it!

Q. How important is it that Torres Strait Islanders stay connected to their culture through art?

A. It’s important because art is like a story board. It is an archive of our language, our story, and connection to the sea and island country.

Q. What would you like people to know about art in the Torres Strait?

A. That it’s important because it documents life experiences, language, and story connection to country. Art acts as a voice, a political voice to express the needs and felt needs of our people.

Q. What does your culture mean to you?

A. It means who I am. It is my identity. It’s not what my culture means to me. It is how I make the meaning of my culture real. Because culture is a gift. It’s not something that I own. It’s a gift that was gifted to me. It’s like any other gift, and I have to gift it on to my kids.

Q. What do you hope for the future of the Torres Strait Islanders?

A. I want to see the quality of life that we deserve. I believe that Torres Strait Islanders need to be independent of all the tiers of government restraints and should be in charge of their own destinies.