Success comes in twos

The indigenous twin sisters have grabbed top prizes at the Western Region Indigenous Art Show with Karen winning the Premier’s Award last year and Sharyn winning this year.

The art show, at the Incinerator Arts Complex in Moonee Ponds, exhibits works by professional and emerging indigenous artists from Melbourne’s west.

Karen is an art teacher at the Kangan TAFE at Broadmeadows, and Sharyn is one of her students.

Karen said their style was contemporary Victorian indigenous art, which basically meant the indigenous style they use involves painting with lines rather than dots.

Karen said her upbringing left her denying her indigenous heritage until she was 35.

Since coming to terms with her past, she said art had helped her understand her culture.

“My mother-in-law took me to the Indigenous Education Centre and it started from there.”

She said seeing her sister’s success in art had also been an inspiration.

“It’s fantastic – we are both rapt.”

The Western Region Indigenous Art show is in its eighth year, and the exhibition is supported by Moonee Valley Council and the Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place.

The annual event is part of Reconciliation Week, which marks 40 years since the referendum that removed laws discriminating against indigenous Australians. The exhibition is on until Sunday.