KAREN CHONG - DWENDY

KAREN CHONG
DWENDY, 2010
acrylic on linen
90.5 x 121 cm
 
PROVENANCE
Mornington Island Art, Qld Cat No. 5406-L-KC-0210
Alcaston Gallery, Vic Cat No. AK16072
Private Collection, WA  
Art Leven, NSW
 
STORY
"This is a place on my country called Dwendy. There are high Ironstone ridges that come right down the waters edge." - Karen Chong

Karen Chong was born on Mornington Island, the artist's father is Waanyi, a mainlander, while her mother is Lardil. As a child, she lived with her grandparents while her mother worked on a station on the mainland. In her twenties, she moved to Normanton and Croydon but returned to Mornington in 1982 to marry her late husband, Bruce Chong. Together, they have six children—two girls and four boys—and seventeen grandchildren.

Her artistic journey began with shell work, creating pictures by gluing shells onto canvas boards and making necklaces. She developed a love for painting at a young age, initially using chalk and crayons. Influenced by Arnold Watt, a painter who worked alongside Dick and Lindsey Roughsey, she was encouraged to persevere in her craft. Starting to paint at the Art Centre with Arnold before his passing made her feel like a true artist.