Working Thesis Title: Familial Colonial Histories in Art: Re-presenting Colonisation and Settler

Supervisors: Dr David Hansen, Dr Martyn Jolly, 

Panel chair: Dr Ella Barclay

This research project aims to create a visual narrative work that investigates Australian colonialism and historical truth telling by researching personal West Australian paternal family history using historical records such as photographs, letters and diaries as well as published texts and other sources (including oral histories) that examine and reframe the colonial narrative. This research includes frequent field work and relationship building with family settler descendants and First Nations Peoples so that the work is collaborative and examines a selection of interpretations of found stories. The work’s emphasis is to focus on the untold truths and unexplored, intimate spaces in a feminist and reconciliatory context.