Lisa Michl Ko-manggén, Big Mob of Fish Coming In

This artwork captures the moment a big mob of fish comes in with the tide, moving beneath the surface in quiet rhythm with the sea. Set against a purple background, the yellow saltwater mussel shells shine like markers of life and abundance, while the light blue and cream-coloured waves carry the movement of water across the work. The small circular shapes represent bubbles, which our old people say show the fish travelling just under the surface as they come in with the tide.

For our people, these signs in the water hold knowledge passed down through generations. The bubbles are more than marks, they are a way of reading Country, watching the sea, and knowing when the fish are moving through. In this work, the colours and flowing forms honour that old knowledge and the deep connection between our people and sea Country. The artwork carries a sense of movement, observation, and respect for the life that travels with the tides.