NSW Health Aboriginal Health and Well-being Project - You’re Not Alone
Today I presented my commission - You’re Not Alone to NSW Health.
I pay my respect to Elders past, present and emerging. I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land on which I was born and raised.
When creating this piece choosing the title, “You’re Not Alone” came first to represent the intention of this piece and to assure you that you are not alone in your mental wellbeing journey. The story in the artwork has a unique depth of meaning, expressed through colours and traditional symbols through my own artistic lens. The vital message in the piece is extended to all individuals, family, community, and health workers, support is around you even if you feel it is not. It may be family, friends, community, or NSW Health Aboriginal mental health staff, tell someone.
The artwork begins in the centre. The focal point is a dominant ∩ shape, it’s a single individual, you, a warrior. It is centred and armed with a shield and spears, preparing for battle. It’s in my contemporary style of black and white which in my art, represents cultures coming together. Surrounding the individual is the importance of connection and coming together, it’s a double circle of more armed individuals that surround you. They can share knowledge, spiritual connection, healing and help with you or your family, whatever it takes. This circle is a close-knit community, ready to also help themselves and each other in their own battles.
Still in the circles look closely, there is a single fine line in red in between every second individual. It is the “blood line”, for me it means family and inclusiveness of the community, the Aboriginal health’s workforce, the Aboriginal Health sectors and all the NSW Nations. I have purposefully made the individuals unique with traditional cross hatching in a different pattern on each, though uniquely individual, the internal cross-hatching tethers all of them. We are all different, but we are all the same, collectively. Mental health does not discriminate, it can affect any of us in different ways. Outside the double circle there are many individuals they’re across all areas representing more workers and community in tonal shades of ochre on country and aqua to the coast, support isn’t far away.
The colour scheme acknowledges the traditional lands, my innovative style of storytelling incorporates textures to form a foundation. To the top right, earthen tones highlight the value of community. Bold burnt brown umber, white and ochre yellow form the bent not broken four large circular resting place symbols at each corner of the artwork. Earthen tones meet with ocean blues to highlight the land meeting the sea representing connection and place. There are prominent travel symbols throughout with smaller campsites and many small dots that represent the footsteps you will take, as will others on your journey. The hardest battles to fight are the ones you fight alone.
Please reach out.
Lizzy