My creative practice takes place on the lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and families, acknowledging their deep and ongoing spiritual connection to Country. I extend my respects to Wathaurong Waddawurrung peoples, whose lands I was birthed and raised upon that have deeply shaped me and my experiences.

I acknowledge Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri custodianship of the lands, waterways and skies that I continue to live, work and benefit from, recognising that sovereignty was never ceded. I come with an intention to deepen my understanding of ancestral pathways as a diasporic being, while sharing, learning and creating on unceded lands (Melbourne, Australia).

I extend this acknowledgement and pay my respects to peer African and Indigenous peoples across the globe viewing this website.

The Purple Shall Govern

Windows with 797 ‘Deep Purple’ lighting gel

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This work explores ideas of unity and invites the viewer to consider what it might mean to share space with one another. It is inspired by the “Purple Rain” protest, a historical moment that occured during a protest march in Cape Town on September 2nd, 1989.

The Purple Shall Govern installation shares its name with the accompanying solo exhibition, The Purple Shall Govern first presented at Footscray Community Arts in 2022 as part of Who's Afraid of Public Space? big picture series in partnership with the Australia Centre for Contemporary Art. The exhibition was subsequently presented at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts in 2023.

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Upward view through tall gallery windows covered in purple film, with the dark silhouettes of tree branches and a cloudy sky visible beyond the vertical window frames.

Detail of The Purple Shall Govern, 2022. 47 windows with 797 'deep purple' lighting gel.

Detail of a low, tilted screen at the edge of the frame, its glossy surface reflecting the purple gallery windows and casting a deep angular shadow across the dark wooden floor.
Detail of vivid purple window light falling in rectangular bands across the dark wood gallery floor and the curved edge of a white listening bench.
Wide view of a gallery space bathed in purple light and multimedia installations, with curved white listening benches and headphones arranged across the reflective dark wood floor. A low horizontal screen, vintage broadcast monitor, glass floor opening, and purple-filtered windows fill the gallery.

Installation view of The Purple Shall Govern, 2022. 47 windows with 797 'deep purple' lighting gel.

Close view through vertical gallery window frames toward dense tree branches and She-oak tree foliage outside, all transformed into vivid shades of magenta and purple by the tinted glass.

Photo's by Jody Haines.