Who taught you to paint? How did you get into painting?
Art has always been a passion of mine, since I was a child. My dad’s sister, my Aunty Emily, taught me how to paint and taught me techniques. She went by her artist name ‘Nuuna’. My Aunty Emily has now passed, but she always encouraged me to paint like her.
What does this project mean to you? Is it about showing your story? Advocating for indigenous Australians? Is it about inspiring others? Other?
This project means a lot to me as an artist. I can showcase my art which has always been about storytelling. It’s an opportunity to educate others about who I am, where I come from and how unique my culture is. Aboriginal art is a great platform to help different audiences engage with its stories and learn something new.
Why is it important to pass on knowledge of cultural practices to your daughter?
For generations art is used as a cultural practice to pass down knowledge. It’s my way of telling my daughter our stories about who we are and where we come from. She can look back on my artwork and stories to then pass them onto her children.
How do you feel about your art being used in schools and offices?
I feel honoured to have my art displayed in schools and offices for everyone to enjoy. It’s a great opportunity for people to learn about our stories and culture. It creates a safe space for those who may identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, that their culture is being respectful displayed and appreciated.
What are your hopes and wishes for how your art will affect people and places?
My goals for my art is that I hope I can impact people when an positive experience by sharing a piece of my culture, and it’s who I am as an artist from Salt Water Country.
How does it feel to have your artwork featured as a fabric on thousands of pieces of furniture around Australia?
As an Indigenous artist, I’m so thrilled that my designs are featured on thousands of pieces of furniture across Australia. My artwork is a personal reflection of my culture. It’s truly wonderful to share these stories in every opportunity. I love to see my culture being embraced and appreciated by all. This is why I enjoy being an artist, I can use my art as a platform. It creates a place where we can hold these conversations around our culture.
Representation matters and I hope it creates a sense of belonging for our mob when they see these pieces in their school, workplace or visiting a business.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a new collection of round art pieces, keep an eye on my social media on Instagram @sharadelaneyart
