Cynthia Burke And Her View From The Sky
Cynthia is a landscape painter from the Warakurna community. She learned to paint from her mother, the late well-known painter Jean Burke. Cynthia’s work celebrates her love of aerial views of the land from a plane. This will be Cynthia’s first solo exhibition at Japingka and features 13 of her favourite pieces. Here, she talks about her life and her work.
When did you start painting?
I’ve been painting since I was about ten. Every time I looked at my Mother, she was painting. I learnt from her. She wanted me to do the painting. She’d paint about Dreamtime stories and bush tucker.
What do you think about when you are painting?
When I’m painting, it’s like I’m in that place. I think about the landscape as if I were looking down from a plane and seeing a lake or spinifex.
How do you choose the colours?
I always choose the colours I want for my landscape. Dark blue, white, dark pink, light pink whatever is in the landscape.
What is special to you about your family’s country?
My mother's country’s languages are special to me. My father's country is also special.
Did you grow up listening to stories?
The older people would tell Dreamtime stories when we were out in the bush.
What is your painting routine?
After I finish my work each day, I will go to the Arts Centre. Other times, I paint on the weekend and sometimes at night. It feels good to be painting. I love doing the painting.
Do you talk when you paint?
No, I’m silent. I do the painting in my room when people are asleep.
Are you involved in a local language radio show?
I’ve been doing it since about 2012. I used to go out bush - camera work, video. Now I do the show. I choose the music and do interviews. People like to listen to the show on the radio. Maybe from home, maybe from a car. They like gospel music, country music and aboriginal music.
Do you have any particular favourites in this exhibition?
No, I like all of them.
Read More: