My artwork revolves around the ideas of belonging, curiosity, forgiveness and apology. The different landscapes of the city and
then the outback help emphasise the theme of this year’s competition Where’s your Country? The different environments ask the viewer where they believe their definition of country lies. In the artwork, the eyes seem
to have tears spilling from them which in
turn portray both the Aboriginal flag and
the Australian flag. Both eyes represent two different groups of people. The Aboriginal eye cries for the inhumane way their people have been treated and the loss of their land. They are asking Where’s your Country? The other eye is a foreigner to this land. They
are sorry for what has happened and ask

Where’s your Country? The writing above the red phrase “Our Country” shows how all Australians need to accept that Australia is a shared place and that we must acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land.

Reconciliation means… This definition was a result of group work and the class voting for the best definition. The students were asked to use this definition to inform their individual submissions. Reconciliation is the act of making peace through acknowledgment and the recognition of rights and origins. It is about connecting to other individuals or cultural groups or a level of appreciation, it is about apologies and forgiveness.