Gallery
Project Artwork
Olivia Kalin
Olivia Kalin is a young Balladong Yuet Jaru Noongar woman from the Perth hills, recently graduated from Kalamunda Senior High school she was apart of the gifted and talented education program specialising in visual arts and also did ATAR art and fashion design in her senior year. Olivia hopes to achieve a career from her artistic and fashion design skills she has learnt. Her other interests include cricket where she represented Western Australia in Alice Springs at the imparja cup 2021, she also loves being outdoors connected to nature which inspires her to create art.
The Aboriginal art design featured carries symbolism of people coming together within the community, the differences within each element of the design can represent variations of culture, land and experience.
“United” includes representation of colours seen within both flags of Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander people. The circular focal point seen in the middle of this artwork was created to depict belonging and coming together as flowing shapes were also formed surrounding to emphasise people symbolised within the artwork where coming together from different country, community and background to unite as one.
Represents the differences between culture and coming together as one, the variations of neutral tones and hands seen create a symbolic representation of Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander people. The mountain symbolism featured on the foreground and background symbolise strength and determination to come together.
Features an emu, traditionally symbolic in Aboriginal culture as the creator spirit, moving forward and strength; This symbolic element and variations of colour has been used to represent the diversity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in a way where society can move forward to create new beginnings.
... In this image there are three faces, they may be easily overlooked but they are important to the story. Because of the continual effects of the Stolen Generation and other harmful actions taken since colonisation, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lack a sense of self. This artwork shows how culture teaches those who feel this way, to create their identity instead of listening to the stereotypes of others.
This image is about exploring culture, the land, the community and yourself. By constantly learning we are filling ourselves with knowledge that we can share with others.
Molly West
Kaya my name is Molly West, I am a 17 year old Aboriginal Yorga living on Ballardong Boodja in Northam, and I have a connection to the Kimberly and Whadjuk country. I have always had a love for art and over the past few years, I have explored a variety of mediums and techniques, including doing a lot in the digital art space. Being able to connect to my culture, as well as tell stories and pass on knowledge through art, has proved to be so rewarding and I’m constantly seeking new opportunities to learn.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is about sharing; teaching, learning, asking, speaking up for yourself and others. We share knowledge through art, dance, language and more, and have sophisticated systems of farming, protecting the land, animals and environment. Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australians are engineers, mathematicians, scientists, artists, writers, strong leaders and teachers.
Unfortunately, some people tend to only see the stereotypes they have been told through years of misunderstanding. They look for people or situations that affirm their stereotypes instead of learning more about culture and its people, that dismisses them.
This artwork is about feeling lost in the chaos, feeling like you’re not seen but always watched. Not being able to simply exist without biased ideas about who you are, being attached to your identity...
-Molly West