"Baayi, in the Wiradjuri language, means footsteps. In this series, I hope to take you on a journey through my footsteps from my humble beginnings to where I am today. I also invite you to pay respects to our ancestors whose footprints paved the way for us to be here on this beautiful land we call Mother Earth.
In this series, you will see many large circular concentric shapes. They are my depiction of a traditional Aboriginal symbol for a campsite or place of rest. These campsite symbols represent the many places that I have been and where my ancestors were before me. You will notice that some of these symbols are not complete. The incomplete symbols represent places I have visited that did not feel like home. These places made me feel restless and unsettled, compelling me to move on. To keep searching for a place that would make me feel whole. The many dots you will see throughout the painting represent the many footsteps I have taken, and my ancestors before me. My journey would lead me to become a mum to my three beautiful children. A journey that made me feel whole. My exploration of many colours in these pieces depicts Mother Earth's ever-changing colours and how blessed I feel to witness such beauty every day.
Our lives are already mapped out for us and where we were meant to end up was written in the sand long before we were born. As a child growing up on Wiradjuri land, I spent many times escaping to the banks of the Macquarie River, in Dubbo NSW, where I was born. I always felt a sense of freedom whenever I was near the river. I would spend many hours drawing wavy lines and circles in the sand with a stick, making my way from one end of the riverbank, as far as I could go, forever daydreaming of what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Our ancestors before us, though their footsteps are barely visible now, were here, and that is why we are here today. I often think about my grandfather and my father, who were Drovers. They drove the land in order to make better lives for my family and in a way, protected us from the harm of the outside world. They always searched for special places that made my family and I feel safe. Safe to be free and enjoy the offerings of Mother Earth.
As I continue my journey, I leave my footprints along the way. I have found my place. By becoming a mum now my circle is now truly whole. I am safe now and I am here."
— Lizzy Stageman
The Indigenous Collection translates original artworks by First Nation artists into three-dimensional luxury rugs using the finest materials such as wool and silk. The copyright of the original designs and stories behind each of the artworks remains the property of the individual artist. Each artist is paid a royalty of every sale.
