LARS KRUTAK

TATU LU: TATTOOS FROM THE DREAMTIME

The Aussie pioneer of the Neo-Aboriginal style, Tatu Lu.

linkages to his ancestral territory:

“My mother’s family comes from Groote Eylandt [Island], which is northeast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and our tribe is the Mara. My mother, who is an Aboriginal artist, follows the Arnhem Land style of art which is her father’s tradition. I wanted to express my Aboriginal heritage with images of native water fauna, which were all a very important part of life on Groote. The long-necked turtle represents my family totem, we put Groote Eylandt in the centre, surrounded by rarrk (Aboriginal cross-hatching) designed by my mother. Barramundi fish represent a common food source and also the saltwater crocodile, an unforgettable part of island life. The island was placed in the centre of the turtle’s shell to deliberately incite the question of what is it? Which it does! It gives me the chance to explain to people about where I come from and my family. It’s become a wonderful tool for educating people about my cultural roots.”