VFPADF Commission
The inaugural VFPADF Commission has been awarded to Mitch Mahoney (Boon Wurrung, Barkindji) and will premiere at Melbourne Art Fair.
Mitch Mahoney
Born 1997 on Ladji Ladji Country in Mildura VIC
Lives and works on Wonnarua Country in Hunter Valley NSW
Born in North-West Victoria along the banks of the Murray River, Mitch Mahoney is a Boonwurrung/Barkindji artist who grew up in Mildura and the Hunter Valley. He currently splits his time between Melbourne and regional NSW. As a multidisciplinary artist, Mitch focuses on the revitalisation of South-Eastern Aboriginal practices, creating cultural items such as possum skin cloaks, traditional stringy bark and red gum canoes, and kangaroo tooth necklaces. He also specialises in line drawings and South-Eastern Aboriginal design. His art reflects his Country and the natural connection he feels to all that it supports, creates and provides, and the ever-changing influence it has on him.
Gurnbak (Goodoo, Mulloway, Long tail), 2024-25
This work speaks to three distinct fish and their importance on Country, Goodoo the Murray Cod (freshwater), Mulloway (estuary), and Longtail Tuna (saltwater). These fish, as apex predators in their respective ecosystems, are vital indicators of environmental health and carry cultural and ecological significance. The methods of acquisition emphasize diverse human interactions with fishing: the Murray Cod, sourced from a fish farm, talks about the importance of conserving wild populations; the Longtail Tuna, caught personally, reflects time spent on Country, learning about the waterways and seasons; and the Mulloway, purchased from commercial fisheries, highlights the complexities of large-scale operations. Each method brings unique insights and challenges, sparking conversations about ethical fishing, sustainable resource management, and the ways we connect with Country. The work ultimately underscores the interconnectedness of Country, ecological balance, and human responsibility.
@melbourneartfair
