This project encouraged students to reflect on their personal histories and identities to create meaningful artwork. Students initially explored the meanings and use of symbols in Australian Aboriginal art before designing their own personal symbols relating to aspects of their lives.

The final outcome of this project was a series of complex large-scale lino prints based on the concept of personal identity maps. 

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Ceramic symbol maps 

Students explored the meanings of traditional Australian Aboriginal symbolism and used these symbols to create narrative maps. Students then experimented with using embossing and reductive techniques to create ceramic maps. 

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Using Google Earth to research ideas

Inspired by the practise of aboriginal landscape artist Bradley Kickett, students used Google Earth to locate and collect imagery relevant to aspects of their personal identity and connection to place. Students used personal experiences and connection to place,  for example ancestral land, journeys, memories and home to create deeply personal and meaningful identity map illustrations. 

Developing composition ideas inspired by Google Earth research 

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Large scale lino print identity maps 

Students synthesized their ideas to create large scale lino print identity maps, exploring positive and negative space, shape, composition and texture.

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Experimenting with background painting techniques 

Students created a collection of surfaces to print their identity maps on. Students took creative risks with a variety of experimental painting techniques and processes and explored colour theory. 

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