Male and Female Brown Snake Dreaming
Acrylic on rubber sheeting, framed under glass, 92x61cm
$1990
The Brown Snake is a powerful emblematic entity for Patterson, often appearing in his paintings.
'I am a Taungurung Yorta Yorta man.
I’ve lived in Healesville all my life. I love painting goannas and snakes, and although I’ve lost track of my totem, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the snake or goanna, as my paintings flow when I paint them.
My great great grandmother, Lydia Briggs, whose picture I’m holding, lived at Corranderrk. Her daughter Lizzie Edmunds was my great grandmother.
Lydia Briggs died in Miloga in 1885 after being told to leave Coranderrk and to leave her children behind. When she arrived in Miloga she asked if she could return to get her children, and was told she couldn’t. This was after Superintendent Green left Coranderrk.
I love painting to keep culture alive and to paint the way I feel about being a Koorie person. If we didn’t paint we’d lose our culture and stories.'
