My name is Barbara Mundraby and my language name is Bungan, which means Sunlight. I am from the Yidinji tribe and was born in Cairns, North Queensland, Australia. My parents, Lewis and Kay Mundraby come from an Aboriginal community called Yarrabah which is not far from Cairns. My father got a job working with Queensland Rail and in 1980 he was transferred to Brisbane, so our family moved away from Cairns. My brother and sister and I all went to school in the Ipswich area. Every school holidays we would ride the Sunlander Train and head back home to Cairns. These were exciting times because we got to see our family again. Every time I saw the ocean in Cairns I knew I was back home and I couldn’t wait to camping on the beach.
As a young child I was always curious about colours and creation. I remember camping around the point in Yarrabah where I would always feel free to explore the beauty of creation because there was no concept of time. For example, collecting shells, observing little crabs making patterns in the sand, I noticed the shapes and textures of big rocks that I climbed to get to the best swimming place and I was also fascinated by the coloures. This was the time in my life when my creative abilities began to develop.
In 2001, my interest in art and painting was influenced by two very good friends, Shane and Karen Wallace, who are also very well known artists in North Queensland. Their enthusiasm and their love for Aboriginal art awakened a desire in me to start painting and exploring my artistic abilities.
My journey with art has helped me to express personal thoughts and emotions that would never have been spoken. The most important part about my art is that it helps me to connect with my Aboriginal heritage and my secret self. This has lead to my most recent and exciting, contemporary styled Aboriginal Art.
