FIRST NATIONS FORUM WITH EASTERN MELBOURNE PRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK

With a focus on engagement with the coast, the first set of artworks bring forward a unique
perspective on the relationships between humans, the land, and the ocean and we are
proud to have her permission to use this painting on the front cover of the community
report to the EMPHN’s second community member’s forum. Aunty Janet’s coastal paintings
are not just about the beautiful ocean or fascinating landscapes; they are an ongoing study.
As she playfully engages with patterns, breaking them apart and weaving them back
together, she brings to life the story of playing in the shallows of the Ocean near Portland in
Victoria.

The artwork titled “Marvellous Melbourne”, provided on the cover of this report with
permission, explores human relationships to country, an abstract artform born from Aunty
Janet’s research. The connection with water, the ocean, and the vulnerability of the
landscape reflect a profound consideration of how the land is treated and perceived. The
essence of the painting is searching for Bunjil in the landscape. Bunjil was all through the
landscape prior to colonisation. However, the devastating influence of a global colonial
invasion between 1835 and 1855 and the ripple effect of these two decades through to the
current day is the central theme of this painting. Aunty Janet emphasises the incredible
fragility of both coast and river. Her work bears witness to the devastation of the landscape,
the deadly multi species impact of the toxicity of the industrialisation of the rivers, and the
plight of a land decimated by consumptive extractive industries.

The paintings also explore the concept of boundaries and the impact of human activities on
the natural environment. Through her choice of maps and symbolic representations, Aunty
Janet addresses the assault on nature and the uncovering of the spirit of the country. Her
flipped map of Melbourne, resembling a large bird with a gaping beak, gasping for life,
offering a poignant view of what the colonists have done, “killing off” the spirit country.
Aunty Janet’s art is a sombre reflection on what increasing human population has done to
the country. The temporary nature of city development, the ephemeral existence of
skyscrapers, and the relentless demands on the country are all captured in her deliberate
and intricate artistry and in her unfinished painting.