Middens of the Manegin

This painting maps my Country, celebrating the traditional lands, rich waterways, and rugged coastline running between the Arthur River (trowutta) and laraturunawn(Sundown Point) on Tasmania's wild west coast. Created with luminous metallic paints, the shimmering gold background and glistening details reflect the powerful, raw sunlight that glints off the waves and sand dunes of takayna.
The vibrant sea shells scattered across the canvas honor the ancient middens lining these shores—enduring testaments to thousands of generations of my people, the Manegin, thriving by the water. Swirling with detailed dot work, the curling, fluid motifs mimic the powerful currents where the freshwater river meets the roaring Southern Ocean, while tracing the traditional coastal pathways and seasonal journeys of the old people.
This artwork brings the ancient spirit of the west coast into the light, honoring the eternal connection, survival, and resilience of my ancestors and the Manegin people.

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Uncle Greg Matthews is a contemporary Tasmanian Aboriginal artist whose vibrant canvases and unique textile designs serve as tactile ambassadors of his culture, resilience, and reclamation. As a proud Stolen Generation survivor with deep roots to his Country in Noth West Tasmania; Uncle Greg utilises his art as a powerful medium for truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation. His deeply moving visual narratives transform a lifetime of profound personal history into rich, layered masterworks that celebrate an unshakeable connection to his Tasmanian heritage, Country, and ancestry. Uncle Greg’s highly sought-after fine art is held in private collections globally, spanning Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Known for his striking colourful works which offer collectors a rare, evocative window into the enduring strength and beauty of First Nations storytelling.
Uncle Greg pays respects to the traditional owners of the land upon which his Berwick studio is located; he acknowledges Aboriginal Elders past present and those who are emerging.