'TIDDA GIRL' (2026) - 152.5 x 91 x 3.2 cm

Tidda Girl (2026)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
152.5 x 91 x 3.2 cm

‘TIDDA GIRL’ is an important self-portrait for Aretha Brown. The woman with the bird on her head represents Aretha, and the image speaks to ideas of Black matriarchy, cultural connection and pride. The bird-headed figures are a recurring symbol in Aretha’s work. She uses them to represent people who are connected to culture and who have resisted the effects of colonisation on the mind.

In contrast, the boat-headed figures represent people with a colonised mind. These symbols allow Aretha to explore different ways of understanding identity,
culture and race relations.

The black and white palette reflects the way Aretha can still experience the world in quite polarised terms, particularly in relation to race. The bird sitting directly on the woman’s head represents the importance of carrying culture with her and keeping it at the forefront of her thinking. It is about cultural connection, Black pride and knowing who she is.

______________________
Aretha Brown
Gumbaynggirr Peoples