Shane Smithers | Moonae (Set of 4) | SOLD
Moonae (Set of 4)
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
40.5 x 30.5 cm each
SOLD
This series of paintings was painted in response to a range of issues and cultural needs. Firstly, mother earth is both anthropomorphized and personified as Wiari the mother of all. Wiari is respected as the giver of life and this respect is extended to our own wives and mothers as human women. Unlike some other religious traditions women, reproduction, vaginas and vulvas are not things to hide, repress or be ashamed of. Vaginas or more accurately vulvas are venerated as the origin of life. And so traditionally Aboriginal people were not ashamed of their genitals, their bodies or of sexual practice. But, as part of the modern world we are increasingly affected by modern body image issues and the numbers of women having labiaplasty is increasing. These paintings protest that increase. Many women have spoken out against labiaplasty. I want to add my weight to this protest. You are beautiful as you are.
These four paintings show vulvas with various shapes and sizes of labia majora and labia minora, all very beautiful as they are.
Shane Smithers Biography
Shane Smithers is a Darug man of the Burraberongal clan. His traditional country extends along the Hawkesbury river and extends inland to the top of the Blue Mountains. Shane is an academic with Macquarie University and holds a PhD in Philosophy, and is currently studying for a DCA at UTS. Additionally he is an artist, he paints, carves and sculpts in a range of materials. He uses traditional Aboriginal symbols and designs in a contemporary style, to tell both ancient and modern stories through his works. The patterns and figures used throughout his work are traditional to the Darug people. Shane uses patterns and symbols to tell intricate stories.
