(Gumbaynggirr)
Artist, Comedian and Decolonial Dreamboat.
Who is Aretha?
Aretha made headlines following her speeches at both the 2017 and 2018 Invasion Day Protests in Melbourne.
The then Year 11 student, addressed an estimated 50,000 protesters in Melbourne on Invasion Day, calling for the date of the national holiday to be changed and fighting to make Indigenous history education mainstream.
Her delivery and ideas led her to be elected as Prime Minister of the National Indigenous Youth Parliament, the youngest ever person — and the first woman — to hold this position.
Now a practising artist and comedian, Aretha takes heavy influence from her home in Melbourne's Western Suburbs and her own identity as a queer, Blak, young person living in the confinements of an urban settler colony.
Photo Credit: Jamie Wdziekonski.
"Humour is my weapon of resilience. I think Indigenous people have such a unique way of telling our stories through jokes and cracking each other up and it’s something that we really stand out in."
Via The Design Files.com
Photo Credit: Sportsgirl 2018.
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NOTABLE WORK
Vogue Magazine named me one of the 2020 female voices of change.
As we work together towards a more inclusive world, Vogue invited young female voices of change to tell their hopes for progress and a shared future, whilst reflecting and capturing who they are as individuals.
Slime & Ashes, cur. Matthew Harris. 28 Nov 2020 – 15 Jan 2021
Slime & Ashes, curated by Matthew Harris, brings together varied artistic approaches to uncanny figuration and anthropomorphic cuteness to consider the interlocking experiences of nature, culture, community and identity.
2021 CONVERSE X Amplify Mural Campaign
I joined forces with Converse Australia to create a mural in the iconic Melbourne suburb of Collingwood. I also used environmentally friendly paint that cleans the air! Good times all round.
I made the 2019 DAZED 100 list.
The 2019 Dazed100 spotlighted the
rising talent shaping the future
of youth culture.
I wrote, directed and produced my first comedy short.
This documentary program follows the intense transformation of Aretha from “awkward loner” to “cool person,” by talking to some of the coolest people ever known (in Melbourne), as she gains secret insider knowledge in hopes that they can help her to overcome her permanent state of being a social reject.
TOP ARTS, Exhibition at the National Gallery Of Victoria.
My artwork "Time is on our side, you mob" was selected as the hero image for the 2019 Top Arts exhibition. The exhibition itself presented diverse and accomplished works of art from students who have completed Art or Studio Arts as part of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
I spoke at the Syndey Opera House!
I was lucky enough to be included in Sydney’s favourite feminist gathering the All About Women Festival. All About Women annually features a stellar line-up of incredible international and Australian thinkers interrogating a range of topics impacting the lives of women.
#Learn My Truth Campaign hosted by (In my blood it runs; NIYEC and Be Collective)
I worked with the 'In My Blood It Runs' documentary, Be Collective Culture and NIYEC (The National Indigenous Youth Education Collective) to contribute to the 'Learn my truth' campaign to prioritise Indigenous histories to be taught in High Schools.
I made a limited edition scrunchie for Sportsgirl Australia Stores!
I created a Scrunchie design for Sportsgirl in order to raise funds for The Butterfly Foundation and promote body confidence within young females. These sold out within days.
