Mel Spillman (Woods) is a proud Noongar woman and artist. Mel’s Noongar family heritage is from Gnowangerup, Goreng Country in South West WA.
Through a variety of mediums, Mel uses paint as a tool to tell stories and share knowledge. Raised away from her Aboriginal heritage, she wasn’t connected to her culture. Through painting Mel seeks to rebuild that connection, with a self-taught practice that extends from acrylics on canvas to large-scale mural based works.
“I created this artwork in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2023 – honouring Our Elders who guide our generations through their knowledge and shared experiences. This piece signifies our connection to Boorloo (Perth) and Noongar Boodja (Noongar Country), the land we work and live on. It highlights our strong foundation through our deep connection to family, community and culture.”
Mel Spillman (Woods)
Staying Connected, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
3x 1200mm W x 1500mm H
