Ghostnet greets visitors to FNQ
The Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree are on our doorstep, and they have both served as inspiration for a range of art over thousands of years and the Cairns Airport unveiled a permanent installation as an example.
Guaranteed to surprise and delight visitors travelling to Far North Queensland a stunning reef of fish swimming across the roof of the Airport will greet them.
Unveiled last week a striking sculptural installation comprising seven ‘ghostnet’ fish of the Great Barrier Reef can now be seen in Cairns Airport’s T2 domestic terminal.
The sculptures represent barramundi, coral trout, red lionfish, potato cod, surgeon fish and Moorish idol.
Spanning several metres, the stunning reef inspired artwork is the creation of seven artists from Pormpuraaw Art & Culture Centre and is the first Public Art Commissioning Project realised in a collaboration between Cairns Airport and Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
Cairns Airport is one of CIAF’s longest serving corporate partners which is a relationship that works hard to leverage its tourism platform promoting awareness and recognition of Far North Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and arts.
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said the eye-catching installation would be a popular addition to the terminal, both for locals and visitors to the region.
“Cairns Airport is the gateway to the culture-rich Cape York and Torres Strait Islands,” Mr Barker said.
“Showcasing this amazing artwork in our terminal sets the tone for tourists visiting our region and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture as one of the most unique and important elements of living and holidaying in Far North Queensland.
“We are proud to continue to physically celebrate and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and art.”
Over the past 13 years CIAF has welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors from the Far North, Australia and abroad, to experience Queensland’s very distinct First Peoples’ cultures.
CIAF Artistic Director Francoise Lane said CIAF values the support of Cairns Airport and the economic value the commissioning project has brought to artists in remote Indigenous communities.
“In working together with Cairns Airport, we are well placed to achieve great things for our artists and indeed, everyone who converges in Cairns – not just for our annual event, but all year round,” Ms Lane said.
According to Paul Jakubowski, the Manager of Pormpuraaw Art & Culture Centre Incorporated, the large-scale ‘ghostnet’ sculptures are made from retrieved, discarded fishing nets and are key to highlighting the vital role Traditional Owners and artists play in addressing issues facing the endangered marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.
“Pormpuraaw is honoured to share their art and culture in this way. For the community, who are a saltwater people, this artwork is very special because it celebrates their living oceans,” Mr Jakubowski said.
Featured artists are Mavis Ngok Thaathunpum Benjamin, Mylene Holroyd, Christine Holroyd, Alma Norman, Kim Norman, Marlene Norman & Syd Bruce Shortjoe.