Indigenous artists make mark on Geelong

LOCAL artists and sisters Kasey and Jess Tattersall are quickly making a name for themselves across the region.

Their latest project, a vibrant mural celebrating Wadawurrung Country and community, has brought new life to Geelong’s Malop Street and the façade of local consultancy firm Wanyaari, who commissioned the piece.

Intended to honour the connections that shape the land, the flow of meeting places depicted in the work “symbolises the journey across Country with your people”, while the surrounding meeting places represent the wider community.

The Barwon River, You Yangs and Port Phillip Bay are also represented as key elements in the piece.

For the Wollithiga women from Yorta Yorta Country and Ocean Grove residents, who create art together under the banner “Sista Studios”, the Malop Street mural follows a string of impressive projects over the past 12 months, including designing school uniforms for their former school, Surfside Primary School.

Kasey, 20, said the project, which also inspired the formation of Sista Studios, was “super emotional”.

“We didn’t have that growing up. We didn’t have murals in our schools… There was nothing really for us when we were younger to feel like people are acknowledging [us].

“We want the younger generation to have what we didn’t have so they feel a bit more included, they know where they come [from].”

Jess, 18, said the duo hope their art can help to spark conversations in the community.

“There’s not a lot, and not enough, education and if we can have art in the community that can bring conversation and more awareness, I’d be happy with that,” she said.

“Being able to work together and use what we’ve experienced to make something good out of it together, is a nice feeling.”

While the duo describes their success so far as a “big accident” and insist they are still taking things day by day, they said they would love to see their art and custom-designed uniforms in more schools across the region.