Aunties, 2024

Aunties are nurturing adult women who are often role models or quasi parents. They love like a parent but act like a friend. As a woman without biological children, I choose to play an important role in helping to raise and shape the lives of other people’s children, but I do this out of the spotlight. In Western culture we don’t honour our aunties, so my archetype – like figures are a tribute to these loved but unseen women.

Eileen Cunningham is a West Australian emerging multidisciplinary artist based in Boorloo, Perth, Western Australia. She is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts at North Metro TAFE, Perth. Inspired by her experience as a psychologist, her work is focused on themes of humanity, hope and connectedness. Her artworks explore these themes across multiple mediums including ceramics, painting, print-making, drawing and installation.