This theme came from an idea of hearing a quote from Uncle Bob Randell in his documentary “Kanjini”. Despite his difficult past in being one of the stolen generation, he still had strong integrity to his people and the land he was born into. With a younger generation still striving to achieve better outcomes and remain strong in their identity, Uncle Bob made a simple statement that has stuck with me and I will not forget in a hurry.
“There needs to be a merge between the old ways and the new ways.”
I find this very powerful. It can encompass a people, but can also reflect on the individual. We constantly need to come up with good ideas that can help reconcile in a time of need. If those ideas are valued and shaped with good intentions they become like drops on a still water surface.
As they gather momentum, they grow and they flow. My painting reflects this idea by merging the traditional idea of circles meaning come together, and representing it in a new way with the analogy of water drops.