My concern for the natural world, growing interest in Art as Therapy and becoming a Wayapa Wuurrker, has not so much taken over, as permeated my practice – changing my perspective on art away from conventional Western structures to a more holistic one.
Investigating natural phenomena and culture through symbolism and myth in my art practice, I have often been attracted to the liminal, and spaces that designate borders.
I can spend hours walking the shore line – the border space between land and sea, fascinated by the myriad seaweeds and shells appearing and disappearing with the rhythm of the waves and the tides.
I am intrigued and uplifted by the wonder of the moment the trees, the wind, the birds or the colours and scents of flowers invite you in and reality shifts.
“Importantly for decolonial thought we are all located in relation to the colonial difference that structures our modern/colonial order. It is only from an awareness of our positioned realities that we can enter in relation with each-other, that we can listen to each-other and learn each-other.”
Rolando Vasquez Vistas of Modernity – decolonial aesthesis and the end of the contemporary, Mondriaan Fund, Essay 014
If there is a word that currently resonates for how I feel it is decolonise.
In the past this meant for me a feminist perspective – what are the roots of misogyny, and how was it related to the exploitation of the natural world?
These investigations enabled getting some perspective and understanding of patriarchal structures.
I didn’t feel comfortable when ‘post-colonial’ became a buzz-word, as I couldn’t see any post-colonial actually happening.
However current investigations into attitudes and actions for decolonising, appear more promising for addressing the harm done to Indigenous Cultures the world over, the harm we are doing to the planet, and therefore ourselves and future generations.
I started a blog (thefamilyvault) quite some time back to have a place to archive images and explore where my art practise could go. The family vault refers to the family of humanity, and the vault refers to the collective wisdom of ages past and present.
Vault is also a word with a bit of goth, and my work has frequently entered the gothic realm. I think there are links between the gothic and colonialism – think about the strong gothic elements in Australian Cinema, e.g. Wake in Fright, Wolf Creek, Picnic At Hanging Rock andThe Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
Colonial cultures are not dissimilar to a large dysfunctional family.
I wasn’t producing a lot of art but I was doing a lot of musing, pondering and dreaming……..
(Link coming)
