Shireen Malamoo “Plantation Creek series”
As a descendant of Tongoa Vanuatu Shireen is reminiscent of the stoic people she met on her homelands in the 1970’s who have lost virtually everything. Shireen now 79 years was compelled to donate a series precious works that depict her memoirs of growing up in Ayr North Queensland which was home for many who were blackbirded from Vanuatu in the 1800’s to work relentlessly on the sugar cane fields.
“My painting is melting pot for my spiritual estate… the Aboriginal, the Kanak and the European. At the same time it sings up the women of my tribal ancestry. Their belief in culture and their ingenuity gave us the solid groundwork that allowed us to adapt to the European world without losing our self respect … my paintings are a homage to them and to the men who supported them.
My art depicts the political and spiritual experiences of my life… the figures are the spirit people of those who came before us… they’re invisible presences all around us but larger than life… some from the past are of people in trauma; some like those in the community around here… others are heroic, symbolic of courage and vision for Aboriginal and Vanuatu empowerment”.
Malamoo was the fifth child in a family of 11 children. She was born in 1936 and lived in the town camp in the Birrigubba Lands of Plantation Creek in Ayr in Queensland.
All money from sales of donated artworks goes to the Vanuatu appeal. Three paintings are available. Pricing from $3,000. One is framed with glass. postage and handling are an addition to the donation.