Denise's Artwork UNSEEN
ARTIST: Denise
DATE: 2024
MEDIUM: Acrylic on canvas
‘I know the power of water – both good and bad. As a woman with physical disability – specifically cerebral palsy, which means I walk with crutches, I have embraced water as a source of opportunity and potential. Water has been a place of personal growth, independence, and freedom.
I learnt to swim like ‘all’ Australian children are encouraged to do for safety, given Australia is surrounded by water and water is central to play and socialisation and it was that for me. The water is a place where I can walk by myself and exercise. Being a Paralympian Swimmer at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, the water resulted in me being selected to represent Australia, travelling both nationally and internationally seeing parts of the world and meeting people I could have only previously imagine. Water enabled me to grow, develop a key part of my identity, as I am respected because of my swimming achievements. This is the good power of water.
I have experienced housing insecurity and homelessness – courtesy of construction delays, building faults and water entering my family home in an unwelcomed way and flooding my home, negatively consuming my life, and destroying some of my most precious belongings from my childhood and other significant life events. My canvas was crinkled accidentally as it was drying when it started to rain. This was a happy accident, as it to me reflected a scrunched-up bit of paper, just like what people do when they want to, or have to, start over, which is what I had to do along with my parents. Believe it or not, it was not a totally negative experience – I had to be resourceful, use my professional knowledge and skills. I also had the opportunity to personally grow. To reflect the mixture of emotions experienced during this period of time, I merged both blue and brown paint together, the blue paint reflecting the positive possibility of water and brown paint reflecting the dirty nature of flooding water.
I created my artwork with the physical assistance of a practical assistant due to the nature of my disability. So, I could create my artwork in the way I wanted to. It was also fitting that the artwork was created with the assistance of someone else, as that is how my experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness were addressed – with the assistance of my family – both biological and of choice.’
- Denise
The River
ARTIST: Elena
DATE: 2024
MEDIUM: Appliqué on fabric
‘My people, when we’ve got nowhere to go, we go to the river. This was my home for many of the years before I got my own home. This is now our gathering place for my Dad, children and grandchildren. The struggle is hard. I see it every day. At the river we find peace and answers.’
- Elena
Nevertheless She Persisted
ARTIST: Evie
DATE: 2024
MEDIUM: Photographic digital print on velvet
‘The catalyst that led me to leave a violent relationship was when my grandmother, who I was so close to, chose to end her relationship by jumping in front of a moving train. I was so worried that this would be my future if I didn’t leave, so I found the courage and walked away taking my young son with me. I sought support from service providers, but I found it incredibly difficult to find stable, safe housing as a single mother, with a part-time job. I didn’t fit the criteria for either social housing or private rentals. I have always told my son our moving around was “an adventure”, and we have been lucky enough to stay with friends. The only way I could get housing was to ask my abusive ex to co-sign my lease, so I did. Imagine how hard this was - to ask my perpetrator for help. My son and I both suffer from the trauma we have experienced, along with the fear that at any point, the cycle could happen again.
I believe recovery is possible for us all, particularly when you have mental health like I do from my experiences. It’s hard work, but we can all live a meaningful life despite trauma, and enduring hell in this life. I'm deeply spiritual but not religious. There's a light at the end of the fionael if we can just sit in the dark long enough.
The image in my artwork captures my eyes, the light that is still inside me despite the darkness I've overcome. If you look you can see that I’m wearing my Grandy Joy's necklace. Today, I carry on my grandmother's legacy for all who didn't get the chance to live the freedom I have fought with every ounce of my strength to grasp. My poem bears witness to the women who have fought for me to have the freedom I have today. Each generation of us builds a better, safer future for women by the choices we make and the work we do breaking this cycle. My tattoos tell my story of finding liberation, and beginning to flourish. My bright hair expresses me. Bold, blunt, bright, individual. I stand out from the crowd. I love to party and to dance. I laugh super loudly. I love people. I'm a social butterfly. A lot of people have tried to bury me but I'm still here. I just grow stronger through it all.
I believe in following the path of freedom, love, authenticity and justice. I believe that justice is the only way the world will be made right and am committed to seeing justice for the oppressed and for women particularly.’
- Evie