Wiiny 

2023

acrylic on canvas

68 x 56cm

This piece tells the story of fire and regrowth and

was inspired by the word Growth. In the context of

colonisation, I’ve presented the difference between

the eurocentric perspective of fire as damaging

and/or negative whereas we embrace fire as a key

element of the health of Country, of the germination

of native species and of ceremony. I’ve shown fire

and airborne embers as a feature of the background

as well as scars which represent other aspects

of growth Culturally. There is also the ‘ordeal by

fire’ aspect in regard to the ongoing impacts of

colonisation. The little figure in the foreground is new

shoots of bracken coming up through the ashes after

a fire. This represents the resilience, determination

of us as Indigenous Peoples, continuing to adapt and

represent in the face of the impacts of colonisation.

It also represents our continued connection to

Country and commitment to protect Country. We

continue to be the new shoots of bracken that

resurface renewed after each wave of the firestorm

Wiiny of colonisation.