Connecting with culture through art

by Bonnie Collings
An exhibition of artwork created by emerging Kurnai artist Genevieve Williams is currently on display at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.
Genevieve's artworks have been displayed in conjunction with the Kurnai Culture Expo. Ranging from acrylic paintings on canvas to intricately designed patterns on shoes, 10-year-old Genevieve's creations help her explore and connect with her culture.
Genevieve first tried her hand at paint by number kits and was quickly encouraged by her family and elders to start painting Indigenous style artworks.

"I first started with a paint by numbers kit from Kmart," she said. "When I completed it, my pop showed Aunty Linda Mullett and then she wanted one. That's when I first got into (creating) Aboriginal paintings. Once I did that one, it inspired me to keep on going."
Genevieve's mum, Lisa Williams, said Genevieve loved to create artwork for her elders, and tried her hand at a variety of mediums.
"She looks at YouTube videos, watching what others do and then recreating stuff for herself," Lisa said. "She's very diligent in that way, always expanding."
Genevieve said creating her artwork and learning about her culture went hand in hand, she learned more about her culture and community the more she painted.
"It just clicks," she said. "I did the (painting of) the wren because it's my totem, mum actually told me to do that, and (I painted) the kookaburra because it's native."
Just starting out on her artistic journey, Genevieve isn't deterred by making mistakes. Instead, she embraces them.
"One of them (the paintings) kind of got mucked up, I was trying to do a feather at first, but it didn't work out," Genevieve said. "I had to paint over it, but I kept going, just doing whatever it brings me to."
Genevieve's favourite piece in the exhibition was her painting of a blue wren. She said she felt a specific connection to it because the bird is a totem for Kurnai people.
"It connects us to our culture," she said.
Genevieve said seeing her ideas come to life was the best part of creating artwork.
"The visualisation is the best part," she said. "I just make it up as I go. I don't really have to look for ideas anymore, they just come up."
Genevieve was excited to have her paintings on display in the arts centre during NAIDOC Week, alongside works by Kurnai artist Julie Joy and Dr Aunty Eileen Harrison's painting "Art from the Air."
Lisa said having works by three generations of artists on display in the same venue was representative of the 2025 NAIDOC Week theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy".
"Genevieve has elders and people around her that she looks up to who are really good artists in their own right, so I think it really symbolises that coming together and fits in nicely (with the theme)," Lisa said.
Last week, Genevieve was awarded the NAIDOC Week creative talent award at Baw Baw Shire's NAIDOC Week opening event, in recognition of her "creativity and passion for art."
Genevieve's artworks will remain on display at WGAC until Friday August 1.