The Healing Journey of Wayne Davis -
Art with Spiritual Depth and Cultural Integrity.
It became my sacred duty to learn about important sites there and care for this country. My traditional healer grandfather (Nangari-Jimmy) taught me for over 7 years about both spiritual and physical healing using bush medicines and spiritual interactions – like placing hands on the body to extract sickness.
I’ve witnessed my Jimmy extract sickness from family members, so I know first hand that the Nangari traditional healers hold very special powers like seeing inside people’s bodies to find the sickness for extraction – similar to modern x-ray vision. Spiritual healing is a sacred artform practiced for millenia. For me, personally knowing and understanding the processes involved, I can transfer parts of this knowledge through my art.
My artwork utllises colour, shapes, animal totems, and at times size, to share stories. Sometimes, it takes a larger canvas to depict the bigger stories. Of course, there are cultural limitations about sharing certain sacred information.
Some stories must remain confidential to our lore only, and not shared publicly. My art never breaks sacred obligations. That’s why certain colours or shapes are placed in the works strategically to express my spiritual story without breaking lore.
Uniquely, I actively encourage people to touch the canvas artworks I create so they can feel the spiritually embedded in the works. At my exhibitions, it’s a meditative, healing experience. (Please, never ever touch traditional ochre rock art if visiting on Country – it’s much too fragile )
For years now, I’ve specialised in creating tailored commissions that focus on the healing needs of my customers. To achieve this, I must get a deep sense about the client and sometimes their kin.... are they spiritually open minded? Are they seeking an authentic piece they believe is connected to their hearts and health?
If you honestly seek healing with an open heart, I can create a custom artwork for you and your family.”
Wayne Davis, 2024
In my words
“My Mother was part of the Stolen Generation. She was taken from her ancestral lands at just 3 years of age. The intense trauma from that cultural upheaval is central to my ongoing journey of intergenerational healing. I began painting my stories, sharing certain cultural obligations and maintaining ancient ways and practices through the art.
At a young age I participated in our cultural lore through ceremonies on our lands, and I ensured my son did too. This established my cultural authority and the right to manage and represent our lands, interacting at high level land council meetings. I can speak for our Elders and now I am an Elder myself, an important role in our kinship system.
I am now one of the kwetungurlu which translates to cultural loreman. I am tasked with attending to land matters and being a knowledge holder. The role is commonly shared with other extended family members that are connected through tribal law and bloodlines.
This role confirmed my family connection to the lands and people people from Kaytej country, neighbouring with Amatjere and Alyawarre 200km North East of Alice Springs.