We invite you to watch talented artists transform a flame sculpture into a powerful symbol of the strength and vitality of First Nations cultures and storytelling. As the artists work, you'll see the NAIDOC theme unfold in real time, showcasing the resilience and pride of First Nations communities.
Each live painting event is more than just a performance. It's an interactive experience that connects you with First Nations artists' rich heritage and creative spirit. Engage with the process, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural narratives that shape these vibrant artworks. Witness the creation of captivating art pieces that embody the enduring flame of First Nations cultures.
Join us at Tower Three South Lobby International Towers, where three artists Melissa Barton, Jess Waratah and Siena Bhuiyan, will create a flame. Read more about our artists below.
When: 11am - 1pm, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8-10 July 2024
Where: Tower Three South Lobby International Towers
These events feature paint supplied by Jiga Jiga, a renowned First Nations paint supplier, ensuring that every brushstroke is imbued with cultural significance and authenticity.
Melissa Barton is a proud Boorooberongal clan woman of the Dharug nation, with her connections to Aboriginal culture dating back thousands of years. Her paternal grandparents are both of the lineage of Maria Locke, the first Aboriginal woman to marry an English convict. Maria Locke is the daughter of Yarramundi, the chief of the Richmond tribes, located along the Hawksbury River in north west Sydney. Melissa uses intuitive techniques and composition to create intricate and eye catching works of art. Telling stories like her ancestors and elders through creativity and art, Melissa is able to depict and convey meaning and story telling onto the canvas.
See Melissa paint LIVE on Monday 8th July from 11am-1pm.
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Jessie Waratah is a proud Warlpiri and Gamilaraay Artist born and raised in Sydney. Her strongest cultural influences are her aunties, grandmothers, fathers and uncles who continue to pass down their knowledge and teachings about the Tjukurrpa. Across multiple mediums she strives to honour all that she has been taught and give back to her community at every opportunity. For the past eight years Jessie has worked as a freelance artist creating commissioned and public artworks while also working in schools across the Sydney District co-creating murals with First Nations students and Elders, with the intention of creating spaces of art, learning and engagement for the whole community. Many of her artworks include references to native plants and animals in addition to landscapes of the local area, In this way the paintings themselves become an Acknowledgement of Country.
See Jessie paint LIVE on Tuesday 9th July from 11am - 1pm.
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Siena Bhuiyan is a proud Anaiwan and Bengali woman living on Gadigal country. Her work is inspired by First Nations art, painted by her family members through many generations. Through a contemporary approach, Siena creates new designs with bold color combinations to embrace pop culture and youth. She reflects on the conversation between the new and old generations of First Nations art. Originally, her work was a private form of self-expression as a young Indigenous person growing up and finding interest in the stories her elders shared. Now, she seeks to honor their history and love for Aboriginal culture.
@siena_bhuiyan
See Siena paint LIVE on Wednesday 10th July from 11am - 1pm.
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We deeply acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we work and travel through and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
We look forward to sharing this special week with you.