Exhibition invites mother, daughter to show art

Mother and daughter artists Dellas and Korrine Bennell will represent the South West at Fremantle Arts Centre’s highly competitive Revealed Exhibition, which will showcase the best new and emerging WA Aboriginal artists from April 7 to May 20.

The pair, who say listening to 80s music while painting is the secret to their success, will be exhibiting their art outside of Bunbury for the first time.

Korrine said it was rare to have work by South West artists in the exhibition, with most of the artworks coming from funded art hubs in the Pilbara and Kimberley.

“We are very lucky,” she said.

“I went last year with Valerie Ogoke to check it out and loved it.

“I thought ‘I am going to have my art in there next year’ so I am really happy.”

Korrine said she grew up watching her mum paint, which had inspired her to become an artist in her own right.

“Mum has a different style of painting that I haven’t seen from any other Aboriginal artist which is the marbling effect,” she said.

“I like to paint people, but sometimes I draw from my mind so I don’t like to look at pictures.”

“Your art is a reflection of you and your identity, so I hope people like it.”

Dellas said her art was a celebration of her Noongar and Yamatji heritage, taking inspiration from the coastlines, oceans and the creatures dwelling within. She is grateful to the art centre and full of pride for her daughter, having watched her “progress through art” and graduate from university.

“We so grateful to the Fremantle Arts Centre and we are just going to enjoy it once we put the pieces in and all the hard work is done. We are also looking forward to seeing everyone else’s work.”