Mea-Mei Stanbury
My artwork explores Australia from a First Nations perspective. I use vivid colours and love painting Australia’s Country and its unique birds. For 60,000 years First Nations people have depicted Country and Ancestry in their songlines, ceremonies and paintings. For Aboriginal people Country is all the living things that inhabit this earth.
As a proud Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa woman, caring for Country is an important part of my culture which I respect and celebrate while being inspired by its beauty. From an early age I have enjoyed going on bush walks, and have been influenced by First Nations Art. I feel connected to culture whilst dot painting and listening to Elders. Through deep listening, seeing and being in nature, I want to paint beautiful and vibrant works.
My fascination with birds began at an early age from an exhibition by Jacques Barraband Parrots (1740) of rare parrots. The azure sky and the warm colour tones of the Blue Mountains inspire me to capture the mysteries of the mountains. Close up, the gumtrees have a sap green colour but from a distance they give off a magical blue effect with an array of unique birdlife gracing the skies.
Environmental issues such as pollution and climate change are threatening Australia's unique bush and native wildlife. I use bold intuitive brushstroke and layered dots to shape acrylics into powerful depictions of wildlife and Country. I aspire to move generations to share the love of Country and interconnectedness for all to nurture now and in the future.
View the work: Building 24 Level 2, First Floor Gallery
