Charlie Jackson
Brigidine College Randwick
NGAY DHAWUN 'MY COUNTRY, MY LAND'
Textile and Fibre
Raffia, found objects
My body of work is about finding my cultural identity. Travelling to central Australia was a major inspiration for my work and the elements embedded in it. Aunties and uncles, especially teacher Maree Warford, introduced me to this medium and it quickly became a focus for my cultural identity. This encouraged me to venture deeper into the various forms of Indigenous art.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Gordon Bennett, Mervyn Bishop, female artists of Mimili Central Australia, Maree Warford.
Marker's Commentary
Ngay dhawun “my country, my land” is a celebration of the land and its peoples. Presented as a unique collection of designed objects, Ngay dhawun “my country, my land” connects with the past and engages with the present by employing traditional Indigenous Australian weaving practices and unveiling them in a contemporary context. Connection to country is exemplified in the unique selection of materials and natural objects, threads and fibres to confirm a personal narrative with rich cultural and spiritual references. The delicate, organic yet tenacious grass fibres locate the work in the landscape and metaphorically harness its energy through the constant struggle to wrangle its spirit and conform to a unified aesthetic structure. Fibres are woven and bound to create compelling forms and crafted objects which simultaneously embody the energies and rhythms of country, coding the endless nature of the landscape to create a rich viewing experience.