Women Digging for Goanna by Karen Taylor, 30x40cm FJ707KT

"Women Digging for Goanna" by Karen Taylor vividly portrays the traditional practice of hunting for goannas, or monitor lizards, which are significant as both a traditional food source and a cultural symbol in Aboriginal Dreaming stories.

In the painting, women are represented by U-shapes and are depicted beside their digging sticks and gathering bowls (coolamons). This scene highlights the communal effort and traditional techniques used in hunting these valued reptiles.

Karen Taylor, born in 1967 in Port Augusta, South Australia, belongs to the Yankunytjatjara-Lurija/Adnyamathananha - Arabana language groups. She began her artistic journey by assisting her grandmother and later developed her own unique style, deeply influenced by the ancestral stories passed down through generations.

Taylor’s artwork not only captures the practical aspects of hunting goannas but also reflects the deep cultural and spiritual connections within Aboriginal communities. Her paintings celebrate the rich traditions and knowledge embedded in these practices, preserving the stories and techniques that have sustained her people for centuries. Through her art, Karen Taylor ensures that the cultural heritage and ancestral wisdom of her community continue to be honored and remembered by future generations.