An impressionable postcolonial child

Ayah and Pikinini

This is the first piece of work from a series of work that was intended for an exhibition.  Due to circumstances beyond my control I won't be showing in the exhibition, so, instead, I will be showing each piece throughout the week through my website and social media.
This collection of works is the first stage of a larger collection of paintings which explore personal experiences, memories and impressions of post colonial places and how they have informed my world view. In my experience these postcolonial parts of the global south are wildly coloured, richly layered, diverse, vibrant landscapes and cultures, and this is the energy that I seek to re/connect with somehow.  This richness and diversity is to be celebrated, something even more critical in the current global political climate.

Each painting will be made available for sale through my shop  over the course of the week via the strongsoutherly shop  .

This first painting is called 'Ayah and Pikinini' .
As a child in PNG we had a house girl. I remember her as this vibrant dark skinned nurturing woman. I don’t remember her face, her name or anything about her other than the energy she gave off. In the 70’s local women who worked as nannies, maids or cooks for white expats in PNG were called housegirl. It’s an offensive legacy of colonialism that I hope doesn’t hang on till today.

Ayah is a word still associated with colonialism, but has portugese roots in the word aia for governess. Whilst it may have other connotations in India, for me it represents a warmer more personal connection to our house girl, who is forgotten to me other than the warmth and the energy around her. 
Pikinnini means small child in pidgin English.

#postcolonial #onlineartexhibition #australianartist #sydneyartist #wildcolour #strongsoutherly.