The Emu by Mandy White

Intrinsic to Mandy's work is her boundless energy as seen in her confident lively mark-making her use of vibrant colours and playfulness with figurative imagery. Her work is centred on strong family connections memories and the affection she has for the many animals in her care. Mandy's work explores her fascination with the supernatural beings that exist in the Noongar and Yamatji landscape. For some people talking about these Little People and Creature is taboo but for Mandy it is her way of staying connected to her family and culture. Because of her disability she interprets the morals of these stories differently than intended and finds them playful rather than frightening. Drawing on these stories told to her by her mother and other family members Mandy brings these bush creatures to life. Mandy's interpretation of these beings is that they are cheeky naughty sometimes scary and at other times mischievous and funny. They live in the bush but sometimes venture into suburbia usually to cause mayhem or maybe teach someone a lesson.