Burwood Christmas Flags - 2020
Artist: Kim Siew
Digital artworks printed onto flags
November 2020 - January 2021
Freelance Sydney based artist Kim Siew was invited by Burwood Council to develop two Inclusive designs for the end of year festive season. The flags make reference in several languages to the different ways in which the Burwood Community celebrates the end of the year and festive seasons. As well as promoting community spirit, peace and joy over the holiday period.
Burwood Art Prize Entrant's Artworks on Flags - 2021
Eight artists were selected from the 2020 Burwood Art Prize entrants to participate in the 2021 Public Art Program through having their art prize entries displayed on Burwood Flags from January - March 2021. For the full artworks please see the 2020 Burwood Art Prize Catalogue
Artist: Tahlia Henderson
Bewitched by the Bush babies
Original artwork Watercolour and ink on 300gsm paper, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
The local bushland has become our natural playground recently. My 2 toddlers and I can spend hours walking through the rugged pathways of a bush track; often admiring the blooming wattle, the scribble gums and the laughing kookaburras. I find that it is increasingly informing my art practice and has been a welcome outing during the strange socially distanced year we are all caught in. In this particular work, I wanted to convey a magical striking beauty often missed when spotting a ‘common bush turkey’ digging in the scrub.
Artist: Alex Hambert
Minorities Lives Matter-From Western China to Western Sydney
Original artwork Acrylic on canvas, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
Life in Burwood of a Uygur woman. The rust coloured background represent Xinjiang desert as well as the brick buildings in Burwood.
Content Warning: The artist statement for the bottom artwork refers to suicide.
For 24/7 Crisis Support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14
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Artist: Debbie Achurch
Construction zone
Original artwork Acrylic on canvas, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
Having lived in Croydon and Ashfield I have seen huge changes to housing density and the appearance of the local area over many years. The construction of high rise is ongoing and in this work I have focussed on the interacting shapes and lines of modern construction.
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Artist: Natalie Uhrik
Her Heart Skipped
Original Artwork Acrylic, markers, Chinagraph on canvas, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
Her Heart Skipped’ is a flirtatious and playful exploration of texture, opacity, light and form.
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Artist: Helen Bronte Boyd
A Little Bird Told Me
Original Artwork Acrylic paint on canvas, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
I’m a first generation Australian on my maternal side of my family, my Mum immigrated as a child after WW11 from Manchester, United Kingdom to working class parents. They bravely moved across to Australia by boat with hopes and dreams for a better life for both themselves and their offspring. Grandma lived in the Boronia Street house for over thirty years, it’s where the family always gathered. Despite being orphaned at 4 years old and never adopted, she had a strong maternal side, she raised four children of her own plus two step children. Grandma showed her love with copious pots of tea, tuna ‘butties’ and an open door for any of us that needed it. That time came for my Mother and I as a small baby when my biological father suicided due to the strains of mental health challenges. Boronia St was our sanctuary during that difficult time and my earliest memories stem from there. Grandma was widowed young and worked hard until 73 years when she was given forced retirement, at Grace Bros on Broadway realised her age. Until that time she trod a well worn path early weekdays to and fro from Broadway on the trains and took an early breakfast at the station cafe for company and ciggy. I remember Grandma May fondly. The ‘little bird’ is a swallow, which symbolise family love and safety. I liken the swallow perched on my shoulder in this self portrait as protective omen reminding me when needed that I am both loved and resilient, received by me through my Grandma in Boronia Street. The copper background of the painting is an acknowledgment of the Wangal Clan, one of the 29 tribes of the Eora Nation and traditional custodians of this land. Stripes on my shirt represent different journeys travelled by my ancestors an my self. The white between these and below show the paths not travelled yet, literally a blank canvas
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Artist: Lisa Ellen Hughes
Hustle and Bustle
Original artwork Acrylic Paint, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
Hustle and Bustle investigates various constraints of people existing in a busy ecological habitats and the social behaviors of making a mark of their existence via graffiti tagging. The animation on a QR code that accompanies the painting depicts the busy lifestyle and daily routines of people on autopilot traveling to work and attending to lifestyle needs.
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Artist: Nanditha Mahadevan
Āhāra- 120
Original artwork Acrylic, gloss and matte mediums, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
While Āhāra means ‘food’ in Sanskrit, it can also refer to ‘diet’ i.e. what is consumed consistently with the influence of culture, habits and values. This work is about the cycle of giving sustenance to both the patrons and the staff and celebrates that Abhi’s Indian (a local Canada Bay restaurant) has been able to do this for over 30 years i.e. 120 seasons.
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Artist: Jennifer Olscher
WASHING DAY
Original Artwork, Acrylic paint and white ink on wooden panel, photographed and printed onto flags
Artist Statement:
A whimsical glimpse of life during very strange and unprecedented times.
Burwood Throughout Time: Harmony Day and Heritage Week 2021
Three different artists where commissioned by Burwood Council to develop artworks surrounding the theme Burwood Throughout Time. Asked to reference both Harmony Day and Heritage under this theme, each artist created a work specific to the changing demographics, vision and face of Burwood. This project was supported and guided by Burwood Council's Multicultural Advisory Committee.
Flag 1
Artist: Noni Cragg
Cragg is an Inner West based artist who is of Irish, Scottish, Bundjalung and Biripai Heritage.
Artist Statement:
The design recognises and celebrates First Nations ownership and custodianship of the Burwood Local Government area. Wangal Lands and waters extend from Goat Island around Balmain stretching inland along the Southern shoreline of the Parramatta River, known as Burramattagal in Dharug which means Place of the eels, almost right through to present day City of Parramatta. Located near to present day Parramatta road and River, this design depicts the relationship the Wangal People have with the river system. The water motif, represents the Parramatta River which offers food sources such as yams and eels. Yams can be identified by their beautiful yellow flowers; the Murnong Daisy. These flank the large motif used to depict the river. Wangal people farmed yams by careful and purposeful planting along the river. Eels, another source of food provided by the river is shown in the design on top of the river motif.
Flag 2
Artist: Alicia McFadzean
Originally from Australia now living and working in South Africa, McFadzean specialises in illustration, murals, hand lettering and design.
Artist Statement:
This artwork reflects upon the heritage items still found in Burwood today, with visual motifs representing the Burwood train station; opened in 1855 as one of the original stops between Sydney City and Parramatta and the historic Burwood post office clock tower, build in 1892. The stylisation of Burwood Throughout Time harks back to old school hand painted sign writing and advertising commonly seen around the Burwood railway.
Flag 3
Artist: Christina Huynh
Artist Statement:
This year's 2021 Harmony day banners include a gathering of favourite past time trinkets in a stone embellished candle, symbols of good luck and prosperity in the paper crane and lotus and lastly, iconic and most loved cuisines. These elements weaved together to celebrate a gathering of a rich diversity of backgrounds and cultures and the appreciation of everyday residents of Burwood today.
