Red Cockatoo Australia
Belonging
by
This painting depicts my connection to this place which has been my home for the past thirteen years.
It tells a story about what my family and I see and feel living in the Blue Mountains.
Central to the painting are two hands reaching across to each other in a sea of pink representing friendship and community as we share our stories with each other.
The Waratah symbolises the Blue Mountains area as does the trees that surround me on either side of the highway which acknowledges the Dharug and Gundungurra nations as traditional custodians and contemporary custodians of the land we are on.
The yellow coloured background represents the sandstone plateau. The open hands are holding a native butterfly (Shouldered Brown Butterfy) that lives in the Blue Mountains and this symbolises my acceptance into this Aboriginal community in which I live.
The Milky Way is depicted through the middle of the painting which acknowledges my respect for Spirit in this place.