Woman of the South - The Night Sky
With her bare feet deeply grounded into the earth, and her head turned toward the vast night sky, Woman of the South - Natalie Childs' strong connection to Country radiates throughout her work. Natalie’s art embodies the essence of the land, infused with care, respect and reverence.
Beyond artistic expression, Natalie wholeheartedly embraces the wisdom of her ancestors. Each creation signifies a deeper meaning of the sacredness of country, sea, sky and spirit.
Her love and intention woven into the tapestry of each collection.
“It’s more than just art — it's a spiritual journey that I am honoured to be sharing with you,” says Natalie.
“This body of work was inspired by my recent adventures under the night sky and the teachings that nature has to offer to us if we choose to slow down and listen. The pieces in this collection are a reminder of our connection to country and father sky. They also serve as an invitation to look up and explore the vastness and grandeur of the night sky.”
The Night Sky - Woman of the South
Woman of the South - Natalie Childs
Woman of the South (Natalie Childs), born on Dharawal Country with kinship ties to the Bundjalung Nation, is an artist living on Yuin Country, Manyana, NSW.
“As kids, my 2 sisters, 2 brothers and I spent most of our childhood alongside the riverbanks of western Sydney with my father. He taught us all how to fish, and how to recognise and name Australian gums. He told us all he knew about the waterways, soil, and native animals but most of all, he showed us the importance of silence and presence when in nature. How to truly appreciate and connect with country.
"His mother, my beautiful grandmother Mary, was born on Bundjalung country. Her father was tragically killed when she was a young girl. She was taken from her mother to a state ward home in Gladesville, and was made to feel ashamed of her heritage and culture. Throughout my childhood, we knew about nans background, but we were never allowed to speak about it."
"In 2019 I held my second yoga festival ‘South Coast Soul Festival’ where Yuin elder Uncle Noel Butler welcomed us to country, held a native bush tucker talk and took part in our environmental discussion panel. He asked my father to assist him in ceremony and for the first time my life, I witnessed my dad (with beautiful tears in his eyes) embrace the culture that he had always been denied. It moved me incredibly deeply. A few months later, I moved to Byron Bay, on Bundjalung country where my grandmother was born and in lockdown 2020 I began painting as a means to connect with nan.”
Now painting from her sunlit home studio on Yuin Country (the Country where her grandmother passed), Natalie is inspired by Country, and guided intuitively by Ancestry.
“My art is my own personal representation of country, womanhood, ceremony and sacredness. I feel my work is forever changing as I learn and grow as an emerging artist with a fusion of abstract, landscape and contemporary Aboriginal art. I like to think that with every moment I spend planning a piece, with every brushstroke and each time the dot work kisses the canvas, I help to release the shame and ancestral trauma for my nan and her extended family."
"I pay my respects to country and, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Elders past and present. I honour our continuing connection to country, sea and culture."
“Always was, Always will be Aboriginal land.”