Wayne 'Liwingu' McGinness
Wayne ‘Liwingu’ McGinness lives in Kuranda, Queensland (‘QLD’), with his wife Lucy, two daughters and son. He was born an hour away in Atherton, QLD, where his mother's family is from. His grandmother was Djairrami (Maggie Anning) of the Ngadjon or rainforest people, who lived in and around the Yungaburra/Tolga area. Her husband Gerry Anning, was a Yidinji man. Wayne spent most of his life in Darwin, Northern Territory (‘NT’), home of his grandfather, Woorradudawich (Valentine Bynoe McGinness) of the Kungarrakan or paperbark people.
Learning how to weld from his grandfather at an early age, Wayne has had a career spanning 17 years as a welder/fabricator on mine and building sites in both remote and urban areas. In 2006, he combined the love of his parent’s paintings and artistic styles with his skills as a steel fabricator and designed and fabricated a five metre long crocodile for an entrance gate. After receiving such a positive response to the piece, he started experimenting with different Australian animals and techniques and realised he had something new and exciting to offer. His unique and original pieces now sell in galleries throughout QLD, NSW and the NT and adorn walls and special spaces worldwide.
Wayne’s style of sculpture is a result of creating traditional painted aboriginal art using steel, in both two and three dimensions. All pieces are created with Australian marine grade stainless steel and its natural colours, with paint occasionally used for effect. Many of Wayne’s designs represent the animals of his childhood and family and of his grandparent’s lands. However, he is always willing to create pieces depicting other parts of Australia. The movement of the animals, reflected in his work, is what inspires him as he believes nothing is more natural.
The artwork below was featured in the Indigenous Law Bulletin May/June, 2012 Volume 7 Issue 30.
