Most commonly known as the Tasmanian Devil, the Purinina made by Trawulwuy artist Vicki West is made from kelp, another species in decline. Said Vicki in 2012: ‘I like using kelp, a plant fibre from the ocean, the old people used it to create the water carriers; I use it as the metaphor of survival… The Devil plays an essential role in the cleaning of and caring for our country through scavenging. I find it ironic that the medium I chose to represent survival has been used to create an animal under threat, itself endangered.’
I like the story; nothing like conceptual art. Love the water puddles. Go scavengers! I only learned fairly recently that tasmanian devils were actually creatures. I had always thought they were figments of cartoon makers' imaginations.
