Harman Virk
‘Toku Tupuna (My Ancestors)’ 2025. Acrylic on stretched pareu (sarong); 4 paintings: 40.6cm x 50.8cm each.
Artist statement
Toku Tupuna (My Ancestors) explores my own position as an artist coming from a multicultural background, being half Cook Island Maori and half Punjabi. Within this work, I look to explore my own ancestry and identity by painting my grandparents.
Whenever I do create work, I often focus on one or the other but I want to try and blend and accept both cultures. I decided to paint onto pareus as I have always been surrounded by them from when I was a kid. This work is a celebration of who I am and who and where I come from.
Photographs: Anna Kucera
Acknowledgement of Country
91É«ÇéƬ School of Art & Design stands on an important place of learning and exchange first occupied by the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples.
We acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land that our students and staff share, create and operate on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples across Australia. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
