“The spirits are angry, they have been for 250 years.

A resurgence of the female matriarch is happening. This show is inspired by Aboriginal Female ancestors who are still continuing the fight. The images are drawn in nature sitting, listening, watching, slowing down and letting nature guide the story. My imagery is drawn from seeds, nuts, plants, medicine and then burnt onto wooden figures. This process is a nod to ancient cultural practices such as firestick farming and wood burning. The use of fire for regeneration. The delicate nature of these works speak to the current genocide of nature reminding us all to care for nature and the female spirit. The current state of our Mother Earth is indicative of the lack of care she has been given.

Referencing the natural world, these artworks also look at the intergenerational stress and trauma caused by poor water and air quality. My works explore ancient Aboriginal cultural practices and sustainable development successfully practiced from the oldest and most sophisticated culture in the world and is a call and response to individual accountability especially the Australian government. White man have ruled this county for 251 years and it has been detrimental to the health of this country and Aboriginal culture. This work is a prompt for the white men to step aside. It is clearly not working.

I also use these new works to explore the intergenerational stress and trauma that is carried and passed on through generations. Black females are often underrepresented and undervalued even though they are the backbone to ancient and contemporary cultures since the beginning of time.

Women are still considered minority groups despite the fact we are the givers of life, the carers, the mothers the mother of all the earth. Without women there is no life. The spirits represent the many roles that women hold Grandma, Aunty, sister, daughter, niece , mother, life giver and baby. They explore the different responsibilities gained at stages in life.

Ultimately my work is about the regeneration of country, culture and women.”

Maddison Gibbs
(Artist Statement, 2021)

Maddison Gibbs is a proud Barkindji woman who grew up in Dubbo, NSW. She currently lives and works between Sydney and Kandos, NSW. Both artist and activist, Maddison Gibbs practice examines dual histories – focusing on stories of past and present  Aboriginal societies and spirit. A multidisciplinary artist, Gibbs works across a wide spectrum of cultural praxis, utilising many methods and ideologies. Current thematics include  intergenerational stories of contemporary Aboriginal affairs – with a focus on telling women’s narratives.

Maddison Gibb’s work is polarising, offering up culturally feminine intuitive visual poetics which at times starkly contrast with her art activism at the barricades. The dual sensitivities of caring for a country and fighting injustice is an interesting tension and one that is explored through out Gibbs practice.

“My artworks are based on my culture, people and surroundings, they tell stories of past and present by using contemporary methods and ideologies. My works include political statements and educational information regarding Aboriginal issues, a subject which I am extremely passionate about. I use different mediums for my works including drawing, ceramics, printmaking and animation.”

Having previously studied Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts at Eora College in Sydney, Maddison Gibbs recently completed a Bachelor of Animation at the University of Technology Sydney.

An emerging artist whose practice has recently begun to garner significant attention, Maddison Gibbs’ artworks have been included as part of Vivid Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Hobiennale at Moonah Arts Centre in Tasmania and the 2020 Bankstown Biennale. Her work was also included in group exhibitions Here I am at Ambush Gallery (2020) and No Show at Carriageworks (2021). Recent artist residencies include the Inner west council EDGE greenway residency (2021), the Cementa21 first nations residency (2021), and the Australian Antarctic division residency (2019).

Working regularly on a multitude of public art murals, Maddison Gibbs also worked on the restoration of the 40,000 years mural at The Block, Redfern, and was recently commissioned to create a large-scale public artwork for the new Eveleigh Precinct in Sydney. In 2019 she was the recipient of the Australian Museum’s prestigious Young Indigenous Artist Fellowship and she has also been awarded the Rotary Club of Sydney Soukup Animation Grant and the Bob Morgan International Scholarship.

Maddison Gibbs is currently a finalist in the 2021 Wyndham Prize and the 2021 Hidden Rookwood Sculpture Prize.

All prices are in Australian dollars and inclusive of GST. Freight and shipping costs not included. Please contact the gallery for assistance with freight and shipping. Prices are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice. For sales enquiries email: info@artereal.com.au

A note on installation: These artworks are attached to the wall using a simple custom made metal bracket, which allows them to float off the wall. For further information on how to install these works, contact the gallery.