Artist Statement:
In 2004, my first trip to Darwin opened my eyes to a world I had not known. There I met my first sitter, Hopie, a happy young woman from the long grass. She spoke with warmth about bush life and the journeys it had taken her on: stories of strength, joy and hardship. That moment planted the seed for this exhibition – a tribute to the courage, patience and quiet resilience of people whose lives often go unseen. Their stories are sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic, but always deeply human.

On that same journey, I connected with other artists in Darwin and travelled to the Tiwi Islands, where their stories stayed with me. Returning to Melbourne, I felt an overwhelming desire to paint a wide spectrum of Indigenous women – their spirit, their experiences, their grace.

With support from Bindi Cole, an award-winning photographer, she introduced me to her father, Bryon Powell, at the Dandenong Indigenous Centre. Through him, I met Indigenous staff and visitors who generously shared their time, wisdom and stories. Each meeting deepened my commitment to honour these women through paint and through this exhibition.

In 2007, I worked in the gallery at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land – an extraordinary space where artists could walk in, create beautiful lino cuts, and see their work printed and sold. The creative energy was raw and alive, and the storytelling – as ever – was central. This exhibition is my tribute to these women: to their strength, creativity, and the stories etched into every line and colour of these works.

Meg Davoren-Honey OAM