HAVING recently returned from seeing her work on show in the Venice Biennale’s Foreigners Everywhere program, Wadawurrung traditional owner Marlene Gilson said she’s come a long way in her short time as an exhibiting artist.<\/p>\n
“I pinch myself all the time, saying what’s going on?” she said. “But I like drawing my little people. I sort of go to bed and dream of little people every night.”<\/p>\n
From exhibiting on the sails of the Sydney Opera House to having her works featured in national and overseas galleries, Gordon-based Gilson can now add a Medal of the Order of Australia to her list of accomplishments.<\/p>\n
From her first time exhibiting in 2012 displaying alongside her daughter Deanne at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Gilson said her creative output can be traced back to her family.<\/p>\n
“I was sick years ago and needed something to do,” she said. “I had five little houses cut out that I’d painted for the kids and Deanne brought me out a canvas afterwards.<\/p>\n
“Deanne had her exhibition at the art gallery and I had about seven little paintings I’d done for the kids and they got put in.<\/p>\n
“That was 2012 and it’s just taken off. I didn’t think people would like my work. It’s just been something I’ve liked doing.<\/p>\n
“My kids and grandchildren inspire me. Deanne has her painting, Tammy has her weaving, Barry has his singing and stories.”<\/p>\n
Often depicting panoramic scenes of First Nations and colonial culture, Gilson’s Aboriginal heritage forms an integral part of her creative focus.<\/p>\n
She was taught about her Indigenous background from her grandmother.<\/p>\n
“We always knew about our heritage but we’d never advertise it,” she said<\/p>\n
“I was born in Warrnambool and we used to go over these big sand dunes called Old Baldy at the beach. My grandmother would teach us patterns in the sand.<\/p>\n
“At that age, you don’t take much notice, but when we went to the museum, I turned to Deanne and said there are the patterns nanna taught me. It all comes back to you.<\/p>\n
“I wouldn’t be painting these stories if I didn’t know about my background.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HAVING recently returned from seeing her work on show in the Venice Biennale’s Foreigners Everywhere program, Wadawurrung traditional owner Marlene Gilson said she’s come a long way in her short time as an exhibiting artist. “I pinch myself all the time, saying what’s going on?” she said. “But I like drawing my little people. I […]<\/p>\n