Boneta-Marie Mabo

Boneta-Marie is a proud Aboriginal, Munburra/Nywaigi and Torres Strait, Meriam woman as well as being of South Sea Islander descent. Walking in the footsteps of her grandfather, the late Eddie Koiki Mabo, she is an activist and a passionate prison abolitionist which is reflected in her recent works.

Boneta-Marie undertook an artist residency program at Aboriginal Art Co where she experimented with a variety of mediums and underwent extensive research to develop this new body of work.

Colonial Seeds is a small showcase of prints that depict the plants of seeds that were brought over in the First Fleet. Planted with many symbolic references, the works comment on the history of child prisons for girls in so called ‘Queensland’. Since the colonisation of this place, these institutions have not changed, only the language in which they are called.

The Safe Space Artist Residency Program is funded by Brisbane City Council through the Lord Mayor’s Creative Fellowships.