Tarutharu is an exquisite giant 27 metre rendition of the Kaurna Skink.
We designed this dreamtime creature with Elizabeth Close, a talented Anangu artist based in Adelaide, and Kaurna and Nurungga man, Jack Buckskin. The Skink tells the story of the creation of woman and the creation of worlds, featuring an emotive soundtrack designed by award-winning creative, Mark Coles Smith.
Elizabeth is an established Contemporary Aboriginal Visual Artist that has spent the past 14 years crafting a dynamic multi-disciplinary artform that she often expresses through mediums such as 2D art, large-scale muralist installations and digital medias. Her unique and vivid works convey her connection to country. She created the art piece that the skink is wrapped in, in collaboration with Jack Buckskin.
Jack Buckskin has been a strong icon in the revitalisation process of Kaurna language, passing on his knowledge and language to future generations of Kaurna people. Jack worked closely with the elders to translate the story of the skink, which had been passed down from generations. This was in fact the first time the Kaurna people’s story of the skink had been interpreted and shared with the public.
This extraordinary piece has an impressive internal lighting design, as well as a mechanical head that continuously moves. The lighting sequence is pre-programmed to rolling waves of colour which progress through The Skink’s entire body. There are hundreds of LED lights fitted throughout the interior, creating an impressive impact
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
A Blank Canvas believes in infinite possibilities. Founded in 2013, we are a multidisciplinary creative company that encourages social change and continuously leaves a lasting impact on audiences. A Blanck Canvas founder Joe Blanck has collected and curated a team of wondrous talent, house in a creative super-ship in Melbourne. Specialising in large scale roving puppets, props, sets and site-specific illuminated installations for film, theatre and major events. Our end-to-end approach, including all aspects of design, fabrication, illumination, automation and performance has seen a number of memorable installations both here in Australia and internationally
Our team consists of talented puppet and prop making wizards, project managers, engineers, SFX professionals, sculptors, specialty performers, costume and graphic designers. A Blanck Canvas continues to create unique works that blend technology and artistry, transporting audiences and transforming their relationship to nature and the world around them.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Elizabeth Close
Anangu artist, Elizabeth Close, designed the stunning artwork featured on our gigantic skink. The design, in her own words, is a reflection of the connection to Country that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have. Relationships with Country are complex dualities that are reflected in nature itself.
https://www.elizabethclosearts.com
Jack Buckskin
This story was shared to us by Jack Kanya Kudnuitya Buckskin, a proud Kaurna and Narungga man, as told to him by first nation elders. Jack Buckskin has dedicated his life to learning and passing on his knowledge and language of the Adelaide Plains to future generations of Kaurna people.
Image Credit Tarutharu - The Kaurna Skink created by A Blanck Canvas in collaboration with Elizabeth Close Arts & Jack Buckskin, as a representative of the Kaurna Peoples.