Bridie Dempster

Perth Modern School

Year 12

Oil paint on canvas, wooden dowel poles

120 x 90 cm

I wanted my artwork to be a celebration of the many talented female musicians making waves in the Australian music industry. As I researched these women, I found that not only were they creating poignant and impactful masterpieces, they were also using their platforms to promote awareness of contemporary issues. These included topics such as social inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, Australia’s stance on climate change, living with mental health conditions, dealing with racism and being part of the LGBTQ+ community. I recognised parallels between what these women are doing now and how the Suffragettes of the early 20th century fought for their voices to be heard and their rights recognised.