ARTIST STATEMENT

The central circular pattern showcases AIDA as an organisation and community; highlighting the integral role they play in growing, supporting and educating our Indigenous doctors of Australia. 

The red and blue patterns stemming from the centre connected by white paths signify our Indigenous doctors and the positive impact they have on health. 

The remaining elements in this piece highlight our Indigenous culture in Tasmania and Australia. They shine light on how our culture has given us the tools and knowledge to come together as a community, share and receive culture and knowledge and use our resources to heal and care for others. 

Our Tasmanian Aboriginal 9 nations are represented in the bottom right with 9 individual dot patterns binding together. 

Before settlement, Tasmanian was divided into 9 separate regions, states if you will. Within these separate states there were individual tribes and clans carrying out different cultural practices. 

By including these 9 nations I wanted to show, even though we may be one culture, one body, there are many individuals and people within one body with something to share and add to the integrity of something whole. 

In the top right we have depictions of Tasmanian Indigenous stone petroglyphs which were calved into stone by our ancestors as a form of communication and storytelling. 

The multi-coloured scattered dots surrounding these symbols illustrate our bush medicines and how they play a role in modern medicine. 

Living on acreage his whole life surrounded by pasture and bushland helped influence Reuben’s fascination with animals and the land they inhabit.

Reuben is seventh great grandson to tribal warrior, Chief Mannalargenna (Dolly Dalrymple line). Reuben is a Tasmanian Aboriginal Artist specialising in contemporary depictions of Tasmanian fauna. He paints representations of animals combined with bright and bold colours to tell stories of travel, human interaction, family, community, culture and connection.

Reuben has been a full time artist for over six years. He mainly works with acrylic on canvas. In the past two years he has expanded into large scale mural art. Through his art, Reuben hopes to inspire story telling and encourage others to interpret and find meaning in his art.

He aims to showcase the beauty of nature and the animals within it. He likes to think of his paintings as tributes to Tasmania’s incredible wildlife.