Current Artwork

Re Connecting
Art Exhibition at Bistro44: June 2010 - August 2010

Artist: Leanne Tobin

Leanne Tobin is a descendant of the Boorooberongal, a Richmond clan of the Darug, the traditional Aboriginal people of Greater Western Sydney.

Her storytelling and paintings revolve around a loyalty to and responsibility for the ‘place of her ancestors’. Leanne tells the stories of her Darug people and their land. She explores the subjects of environmental care and social fairness. Her painted stories convey the gentle beauty and wisdom of the land and its original people.

People, plants and environments are prominent in this exhibition. Landscapes convey the vital spiritual connection of the Darug people to the land, often concealed beneath the concrete of urban modernity. Leanne uncovers these hidden stories from the past and restores meanings to silent landmarks of her ancestral country. Plants and flowers are part of this narrative; although fragile and fleeting they are powerful symbols of love and belonging. Aboriginal people are often depicted, yet stories reflect on broader questions of human life, in traditional and contemporary contexts.

Past anecdotes and personal experience are enmeshed within her stories. With her mixed-ancestry, Leanne has a larger and more inclusive story to tell. She connects people through the portrayal of common human feelings shared by all. Her artwork is universal, inviting not only her people, but all of us to the circle of storytelling. We are welcomed to relish her visual narratives.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Waiel Galal, Stacy Pinto, Anthony Pinto and all staff of the Bistro44; Monir Rowshan, Cultural Planning Coordinator, Blacktown City Council, and Blacktown Artist Network for supporting this exhibition. Exhibition was curated by Stan Florek.