National Reconciliation Week 2021 – Maddie Gibbs
As part of National Reconciliation Week 2021, a large-scale contemporary work by emerging Indigenous artist Maddie Gibbs was curated and produced by aMBUSH Gallery and presented by One International Towers, Barangaroo.
This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme of ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’ looks to a future where First Nations peoples and their long history and rich culture are respected and prized by all communities across our nation coming together in support.
Maddie is a proud Barkindji woman, who grew up in Dubbo, NSW. Maddie’s artworks are based on her culture, people and surroundings, and convey stories of past and present using contemporary methods and ideologies. Her works include political statements and educational information regarding Aboriginal issues, a subject she is extremely passionate about.
Maddie’s artwork for this project was a sculpture titled ‘The Heart of Barangaroo’, painted in traditional Indigenous colours as an acknowledgement to the country on which we meet, live, work and play, and inspired by the local landscapes, foods, bush medicine and healing plants.
This impressive work was purposefully thought provoking, and compelled viewers to consider their role in progressing reconciliation, with employees who work in the building able to make a pledge to participate not just in word but in action as well.
Maddie Gibbs
