Manbarra Country

Manbarra Country - walking along the beach collecting shells, shells that whispered the oceans song in our ears. Memories of the shells that covered her shelves in her treasure room came rushing back. “The sound of home” I had always been told, and now here I was with my babies; home. Walking on Country, consuming it all with hungry eyes and even hungrier hearts. Shells bigger than our hands filled our old bright blue ice cream container. Excited squeals ripping through the salty air as we found bigger more beautiful ones, cone shells, spider shells, mermaid money. My heart full; we were finally home.

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Mahalia Mabo is a proud Manbarra, Nywaigi and Meriam woman. She comes from a long line of artists and creatives. Her paternal grandparents, the late activists Dr Eddie Koiki Mabo and Dr Bonita Mabo were both artists and creatives, her father a sculptor and mother and maternal grandmother painters. Her artwork represents her connection to Country, family and her saltwater heritage. Her paternal grandfather connects her to Mer in the Torres Straits and her paternal grandmother connects her to the Great Barrier Reef and its creation story. Mahalia is an intuitive artist.