Dawesville artist Sophia Ovens has won the peoples’ choice award and a highly commended award at the esteemed regional art competition, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize.
Her artwork, entitled “When the wind takes you”, is a vibrant painting that employs elements of both her Borroloola heritage in the Northern Territory, and contemporary features.
For Ms Ovens, painting is in the blood.
“I’ve been painting since I was about 12, my grandmother got me into it, because my grandmother’s an artist, and so is my mother,” she said.
“I do Indigenous dot painting, and I paint things about my family, and how I’m feeling, and my environment really.”
Ms Ovens said her painting was about being free in whatever path you take.
“I was sitting outside, and feeling really free, feeling really at ease, and [the colours] are based on a nice sunset at the time,” she said.
Although she incorporates modern aspects in her painting, she said tradition was an important part of her work.
“I just think it’s really great to get your culture out there, and to tell a story of how Indigenous people, how their culture is, how they think and how they live.”
