Negative Space: Gumada A (Spirit) Painting

Konstantina is an emerging contemporary Aboriginal artist. She is re-imagining the traditions of her peoples’ dot painters and providing a modern narrative for all Australians to better understand First Nations People as an immensely important part of the fabric in Australian culture. Her work is simple and yet intricately detailed. Her colour palette is well chosen and directly reflective of each of her artworks narratives. The use of bright colours teamed with earthly tones look as much like they’re out of a magazine as they do the bush. A 30-something Koori woman of the Eora Nation. She is a proud Gadigal artist who was born and bred on her own country. She now resides with her husband and children in the Northern Rivers Region where she is inspired by the nature that surrounds her and her young sons. She directly portrays the struggle, inspiration, challenges and daily turmoil she feels at being a mum, a storyteller, a creative, a woman and above all a connected Aboriginal woman to the land, animals and spirit of country into her modern take on a time honoured tradition of dot painting. Using acrylics and sticks found on mother Earth she sits quietly for hours producing works on paper, canvas and at scale for public art projects.