Yirramboi Resilience in Isolation 2020.

My Boonwurrung Queens

check them out https://yirramboi.net.au/2020/09/resilience-in-isolation-my-boonwurrung-queens/

 I’ve been fortunate enough to receive the Yirramboi Resilience in Isolation Grant in July.

Originally it was going to be a continuation of my Augmented reality Busts. But due to Stage 4 lockdowns I couldn’t do my work outside.

Thank you to Yirramboi and the City of Melbourne for the opportunity to show my work.

Description of the works:

A celebration of the matriarchs of the Boonwurrung.

My Boonwurrung Queens.

I come from a long line of strong, intelligent and caring individuals, who have lived through great adversity, doing the work to not only ensure the survival of their own people and culture but also for all the First Peoples community. 

The 3D sculpted busts are based on strong facial features I see when I look at my family. My intention of the use of bright colours is to draw the eye, making the unseen, seen. In particular the use of Magenta and Cyan is deliberately chosen as they are impossible colours, that our visual cortex of the brain constructs. I use these colours to represent the spirits of our ancestors.

The background patten is taken from engraved pattens I’ve done on emu eggs, influenced by some Kulin design but also a lifelong habit of automatic drawing.