“Lived Experiences” by Chynna Chadderton
We at CoMHWA would love to thank Chynna for creating this amazing piece of artwork that we now display at the entrance to our offices.
Chynna is a proud Yamatji-Malgana woman from Gutharragulda (Shark Bay, Western Australia) and self-taught Aboriginal artist who we commissioned to make this beautiful unique piece of art as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan and commitment to supporting WA’s Indigenous communities.
This Artwork symbolises what lived experiences are and one’s journey in finding a space where you can express and overcome the things in life that have made you feel alone and lost. Proving that with a little bit of kindness and respect from others, you can be in an inclusive environment that is empowering and connected to community.
Lived Experiences
The bottom half of the Artwork in different blue tones represents the different barrier we are trying to overcome, where you live or have lived/living experiences with mental health and alcohol or drug issues.
The single symbol with footsteps leading to the centre represents a lost person trying to be heard and find their voice, wanting to understand their experiences, and needing a safe space where they don’t feel judged but equal to their peers who have gone through similar experiences.
The symbol in the centre of the painting symbolises community and a safe space for anyone to come to when feeling unwell. It encompasses the values and principles of the CoMHWA community, allowing them to express themselves with no judgement and guiding them on a journey where they will have support from thoughs who have had similar or shared experiences, seeing them as their peers. This allows them to be in a space with trust, equality, respect and understanding, allowing them to identify what is their truest and happier selves.
The eucalyptus leaves flowing at the bottom of the water symbolise strength, protection, and abundance. Eucalyptus leaves help to purify and negate negative energy.
The water flowing through the middle of the painting, connected to the circle in the centre, represents wisdom, power, grace, and the sustenance of life. The pattern between the water with lines represents one’s journey.
The semicircles at the top of the water symbolise shelter, which provides security, personal safety and protection.
The person above them represents you once you have gone on your journey and come out on the other side. It shows the life you can have once you have overcome the obstacle you have faced. Finding friendship, empowerment, acceptance and an insight into what recovery means.
The intricate circles with meaningful symbols woven into them each represent a person and the powerful bond and joy of family, friends and community gathered together, with people dancing and celebrating life and the beautiful joys it brings.
This Artwork symbolises what lived experiences are and one’s journey in finding a space where you can express and overcome the things in life that have made you feel alone and lost. Proving that with a little bit of kindness and respect from others, you can be in an inclusive environment that is empowering and connected to community.
CoMHWA knows this and strives to create a place with kindness, respect, inclusivity, courage and partnership. Assisting with education, awareness, training and opportunities for advancing mental health support in Western Australia.
About Chynna Chadderton
Chynna Chadderton is, a proud Yamatji-Malgana woman from Gutharragulda (Shark Bay, Western Australia) and self-taught Aboriginal artist.
She has always had a passion for art and craft since she was a little girl. Painting is a form of stress relief and has also been a healing tool to help manage depression due to childhood trauma. Painting allows her to shut out the outside world and calm her mind. She paints because it is the only way she can express herself in a way that others can understand and find beautiful.
When she paints, she experiences a range of emotions, from happiness to sadness, anger to calmness. This allows her to bring something unique to each canvas she works on and to express herself through symbols and colours. Her work is inspired by her emotions and the meanings she wants to convey through her paintings. She strives to create pieces that can move people and elicit different emotions when they view them.
As an Aboriginal woman she believes that the more we share our culture through art, dance, songs and standing up for our rights and land, the more we can show the beauty of what it means to be a Aboriginal and hopefully allow others to understand the significance of our beautiful culture.
She incorporates dots and lines in her paintings which stem from the traditional style paintings of her people, but she likes to add her own style to her work. Her preferred medium is acrylic on canvas, where she uses multiple colours to represent everything originating from the Country, while incorporating language symbols that have deep meanings and tell stories.
She is not a cultural knowledge holder and her intention in sharing her art and stories is a way to share her own unique story with others.
