STEVIE O’CHIN
Settle

2021
acrylic on canvas
15.5 x 15.5cm

Topic: Settle

Whenever I hear the word “settle”, it transports me back in time to the colonisation period and the cruelty my ancestors faced and endured in the name of the Crown and progress.

This word stirs up so many emotions in me; no other time in history had such a profound effect on my people and to this day, Aboriginal people of Australia still struggle with the hurt and pains garnered through this period of time.

One of the effects of Settlement was the introduction of many diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza.

I recently found out my 3-times great grandmother- Yonga Watson (Koa) lost her life in 1919 to the Spanish flu pandemic. This resulted with her children being removed from their homeland (Country) and placed onto reservations.

This painting is my representation of this era.