Bedhan Lag: Land of the Kaiwalagal

Artist Brian Robinson (1973)

Date2019

Object number00055456

NameLinoprint

MediumOil based ink on paper

DimensionsOverall: 1151 × 2032 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionLinocut printed from one block in black ink by Brian Robinson titled 'Bedhan Lag: Land of the Kaiwalagal'. The print features symbolism that reference both Western culture and Torres Strait Island imagery. Depictions range from characters from computer games, realistic sea creatures and fauna, historical European navigational instruments and Torres Strait figures wearing traditional masks and weaponry. Brian Robinson has created this linocut print of as his own interpretation of August 22nd 1770 when Lieutenant James Cook R.N. of HMB ENDEAVOUR landed on an island off the tip of Cape York in far North Queensland. He took possession of the east coast of Australia in the name of His Majesty King George III and named the island Possession Island. However, the Kaurareg people of the Kaiwalagal nation are the traditional custodians of Bedhan Lag (Possession Island) and have maintained links with Bedhan Lag through traditional lore and customs since Bipotaim, the time before (Ancestral Time). HistoryOn the return voyage to England in 1770, Lieutenant James Cook and HMB ENDEAVOUR needed to find a navigable passage through the treacherous waters of Torres Strait, navigated earlier by Luis Váez de Torres in 1606. Fresh from making essential repairs to the damaged ship, Cook searched for a high vantage point, and found one on top of a hill on a nearby island. Climbing the hill with a small party, including the naturalist Joseph Banks, Cook spotted a potential route and signalled the good news down to the men on the ship below. Later, Cook would record that, when he was on that hill, he once more hoisted English colours and in the Name of His Majesty King George lll took possession of the whole Eastern Coast under the name of New South Wales, together with all the bays, harbours, rivers and islands located along the coast. To commemorate the day, he named the island Possession Island. However, Possession Island had long had another name given by the traditional owners, the Kaurareg people of the Kaiwalagal nation. They knew the island to be Bedhan Lag. Traditional lore and customs show that since Bipotaim, (The Time Before) the Kaurareg have been connected to Bedhan Lag. Artist Brian Robinson states: "It is ironic that the place of possession for the Australian mainland was a small island in the north of the country, a place called Bedhan Lag. From this island all of Australia's recent land control battles started. ... The Kaurareg people of the Kaiwalagal nation have maintained links with Bedhan Lag through traditional lore and customs since 'Bipotaim', the time before. They have continued to live on or close to their traditional country, despite forced removal to Moa Island in 1922, and make use of the land and sea resources, according to their traditional customs and knowledge." SignificanceThis work by Brian Robinson addresses the voice of the Kaurareg people of the Kaiwalagal nation who are the traditional custodians of Bedhan Lag (Possession Island). They have continued to live on or close to their traditional country, despite forced removal to Moa Island in 1922, makes use of the land and sea resources, according to their traditional customs and knowledge.

The title of the work reclaims the true language of the island back to its traditional name of Bedhan Lag and exposing the wrongful name change in by British navigator Lieutenant James Cook in 1770.

Robinson created the work as a response to the commemorations of the 250th marking of navigator Lieutenant James Cook voyage in 1770 to Australia.