The artwork that adorns of the walls of Parrotfish Lodge has been created by local Aboriginal artist Zane Saunders.

Zane has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. He has been the sole creator of many commissioned murals and logos for Cairns Regional Gallery and other arts organizations. Zane has been included in several publications and has traveled to many national and international conferences such as the Dreamspeakers Conference in Alberta, Canada and the International Rock Art Conference, Alice Springs.

Zane Saunders was born in Cairns 27th December 1971, and has lived most of his life in Kuranda with his family and relatives.

Zane’s grandmother and great grandmother (on his mother’s side) are from Sandy Cape region – Butchulla People of Frazer Island (South East Coast Queensland). His grandfather was born on Forest Vale Station, around the Mitchell area of West Roma, Brisbane. Zane’s father was born in Cherbourg, Queensland.

An explanation of the painting on left. Firstly painted in the background was the image of ‘Mundagutta’, my family’s ancestral creation spirit. Also it represents Frazer Island, sleeping carpet snake. The pieces are like sand shifting on beaches or riverbeds, cause of the tidal movement, water currents, wind, weather, etc. Plus it represents our indigenous people, their broken spirits, broken lives spread all over the land of Australia, cause of western settlement to our country, bringing confusion and destroying our people, land and culture, beliefs and identity – the relationship we have with land and creator.

A lot of imagery represents myself and family and friends experiencing this part of the country, which is not my country but like as an artist or anyone who lives here, it becomes a part of you and you become a part of the country and their people, sharing and learning the values, and sometimes the beauty that strengthens your spirit that allows you to express your gratitude of the privilege of living here.There are also underlying meanings that can be represented in this painting that sometimes can be personally interpreted by the artist or viewer e.g. there were figures that were painted over that represented our ancestors, our elders today, their spirits in this land that have accumulated this wealth of knowledge and understanding –that can be viewed in artworks such as this and cultural practices that still continue in a lot of indigenous communities today.

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