Layne Dhu-Dickie

Layne Dhu-Dickie was born in 2004, in South Hedland in the Pilbara, a region of northwestern Australia, spanning more than 500,000 square kilometres. Dhu-Dickie’s heritage lies with the Banyjima people.

In 2019, Dhu-Dickie became the youngest artist ever to feature in Tarnanthi. At just 15 years old, he was the proud author and illustrator of comic book series, Captain Hedland, ready to take on the world through his superhero alter-ego.

Dhu-Dickie attributes his love of comics to growing up reading his dad’s collection of vintage Phantom and Spiderman comics. He began coming up with his own characters and then later moving into full scale comics, often tackling issues affecting his local community and presenting tales of caution, as well as his hopes for the future.

Dhu-Dickie’s work provides a youthful perspective on contemporary life in Port Hedland by illustrating growing concerns within his community, particularly regarding young people. Dhu-Dickie says, ‘I suppose there are a lot of problems [here in Port Hedland] so I thought it would be cool if I could create a superhero that could stop them.’ [1] And so, Captain Hedland was born.

I’ve always loved drawing and also it’s fun trying to make a story
Layne Dhu-Dickie, Spinifex Hill Studio Artist Profile

installation view: Tarnanthi 2019 featuring Captain Hedland versus The Fisherman by Layne Dhu-Dickie, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide;; photo: Saul Steed.

Inspired by Captain America, but with a distinct Port Hedland spin, the superhero was here to help youth stand up against negative influences. In issue one, Captain Hedland was tasked with bringing down villain, Crave, who was actively preying on adolescence and turning them to drugs and alcohol. Captain Hedland’s message was clear, ‘You don’t need drugs and alcohol to have a good time. STAY CLEAN.’

Following the success of the first issue, Dhu-Dickie began work on the sequel, Captain Hedland versus the Fisherman, in 2017. This time, up-against The Fisherman, Captain Hedland is on a mission to empower students to resist the temptation of skipping school, and value their education. Featuring some 34, hand-drawn pages, Dhu-Dickie shows just how powerful a mark an artist with a message, a pen, and some paper can really make.

In 2021, Captain Hedland returned once more, to stand up against bullying and take down The Bush Mechanic. As in previous issues, Dhu-Dickie intentionally positions recognisable landmarks from Port Hedland within his comics, making no secret that this work is speaking directly to, and of, his community. In addition to his Captain Hedland series, Dhu-Dickie has his own clothing range, Heavy Foot Designs, featuring original imagery, and is looking forward to working towards animating his comics in the future.

Currently, Dhu-Dickie is situated on Kariyarra country, where he is a studio assistant at renown Spinifex Hill Studio, South Hedland. Here he works alongside a diverse range of artists, continuing to develop his skills and strengthen his practice. Art Centres, such as Spinifex Hill Studio, provide invaluable opportunities for continuous connection to culture through sharing, learning, and preserving.

Layne Dhu-Dickie, Banyjima people, Western Australia, born South Hedland, Western Australia 2004, Captain Hedland versus The Fisherman, 2017-18, South Hedland, Western Australia, fibre-tipped pen on paper, 34 pages, 42.0 x 28.0 cm (each); Acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2018, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © Layne Dhu-Dickie/Spinifex Hill Studio, photo: Stewart Adams.

Pop culture and character design is a favourite source of inspiration for artists. Fellow Tarnanthi alumni, Ray Mudjandi (Mirrar/Western Arrernte), and Naomi Hobson (Kaantju/Umpila) join Dhu-Dickie in speaking to the next generation and celebrating their power.

  • Compare and contrast the work of First Nations artists Layne Dhu Dickie and Ray Mudjandi
  • Consider how these young artists are using Art (their superpower!) to tell their stories and raise awareness of issues in their world.
  • What are the similarities and differences between works of art by Layne Dhu Dickie and Ray Mudjandi?
  • Look at Adolescent Wonderland by Naomi Hobson. Consider Hobson’s intentions in highlighting the young people of Coen so vividly in her photographs. Can you identify any links between Dhu-Dickie and Hobson’s work?
  • Investigate a current issue that is relevant to your community – For example, South Australia’s current coastal crisis, the impacts of AI, bullying, or social media.
  • How could you use art to share a message of caution, call to action, or hope in response to your focus issue?

Find out more about the Pilbara. This vast region of Australia encompasses many Aboriginal countries and is place of rich cultural exchange. Home to an array of celebrated Art Centres, the Pilbara is known primarily for its mining and construction industries. Investigate the history of the region and the impacts of industrialisation on the people and land of the Pilbara.

Design (Printmaking)

  • Identify your Superpower. This could be an exaggeration of an existing skill, a positive attribute, or something you aspire to be.
  • Design a personal icon/motif/symbol that reflects your Superpower.
  • Create a lino cut stamp of your design.
  • Develop printing skills through layering multiple colours and eventually printing onto paper and/or fabric.

Drawing/Digital Design

  • Create a graphic story/comic strip featuring your super-persona.
  • Be the hero of your own story and show how your power could benefit your community.
  • You might like to include recognisable landmarks from where you live like Dhu-Dickie did in his comic book with landmarks from Port Headland.
  • Sketch a series of illustrations in storyboard form to visually communicate your ideas.
  • Work up either the full story as a comic strip, or one selected scene, as a finished work of art.

Layne Dhu-Dickie has been drawing for as long as he can remember. Begin a daily drawing journal and watch your skills develop over time. Draw anything that sparks your interest, a plant, a character, animals, people, or buildings. You can even trace over a found image if you like. Start by setting aside 10 minutes a day to practice. Like anything, the practice will begin to show, and your confidence in mark making will improve.

  • Curate a collection of images that tells a story about either:

a) Problems or concerns affecting your local community, or

b) Celebrates young people in the community

  • Create a short film (live action, or animated) featuring your superhero alter-ego making a positive impact on a community issue.

Layne Dhu-Dickie, Banyjima people, Western Australia, born South Hedland, Western Australia 2004, Captain Hedland versus The Fisherman, 2017-18, South Hedland, Western Australia, fibre-tipped pen on paper, 34 pages, 42.0 x 28.0 cm (each); Acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2018, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © Layne Dhu-Dickie/Spinifex Hill Studio, photo: Stewart Adams.

Follow the instructions below from Layne to create your own character.

Imagine what you want your character to look like. Draw the head with a basic circle and then draw the rest of the figure with basic shapes.

Add in the muscle definition so you know where clothes would fold.

Once It’s ready, start sketching in what clothes you want your character to wear.

Once that’s all done, ink over the sketched lines and erase the led when finished.

Colour it in now, start with a base colour for everything but, if you want lighter shades start with a light colour first then darker ones.

Add in the shading.

Your imagination is the limit! and you can draw your character doing anything.

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This education resource was written by educator Sally Lawrey.