In 2021, I was commissioned to produce an artwork for the Parliament of Victoria, that would ultimately be hung in Parliament House and also used for the the first Reconciliation Action Plan.
Artwork Two
Victorian Parliament Reconciliation Action Plan
My Grandmother
It wasn’t an easy decision to say yes to the commission but ultimately I agreed, mainly after speaking to my grandmother, my family and elders. When producing the work a lot of different things were running through my mind. I thought a lot about my great great grandparents, my great grand parents and my grandparents. What would they think about it? All I know for sure is that my grandparents were proud of me and in the end that’s all that matters I guess.
My nieces and nephews as they grow, will have something tangible to go and see and know what their uncle did. That’s important to me, as all they know is that thier uncle paints and is away a lot of the time. But hopefully they understand one day that it’s all for them.
Meaning Communicated
A celebration of the collective Aboriginal identity and all they encompass, their vibrancy, their beauty, the tangible and the intangible, the undeniable identity.
The flowing designs throughout, a celebration of the spirit of ancestry flowing and touching all things, embedded deep within country.
Country has certain magic; its elusive quality can transform the landscape in just a matter of seconds. I have tried to strive to convey this sense of place by capturing this magical essence. I aim that this feeling be conveyed throughout this piece and is an ode to all countrymen and countrywomen.
Credited Artists: Tommy Day III
Capturing the essence of country is everything to me! As a younger Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba man, it is always the essence of country I remember most. The intricacy of it all, when the seasons are on the verge of changing and the effect it has on that place, everything changes except its essence.
Now as an older man, having lived my life on country, I have a greater understanding of it. The interaction of countless generations, leaving their mark on it, dancing on it, singing on it, hunting on it, living with it, the story it tells is our story. From the whistling winds singing its ancient song to the fire that comes, from which all life regenerates, it has a soul that is intertwined with ours.
I paint it like I see it, through Aboriginal eyes, imagining the spirits living in harmony with all things.
Victorian Parliament's Reconciliation Action Plan
This Reconciliation Action Plan for Victoria’s parliamentary administration is an important step towards ensuring that Victoria’s First Peoples have the opportunity and support to participate actively in the day to day life of our Parliament.
The three parliamentary departments play a vital role in delivering services to Parliament and the community it serves. Through this Reconciliation Action Plan, the parliamentary administration will ensure that First Peoples are recognised, respected and encouraged in the work the three departments undertake.
Reconciliation is often talked about as a journey, with many steps along the way. It starts with a commitment, to foster relationships, to build understanding and to recognise the actions that are needed.
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