Limited Edition Babeen (Father) Print
Title of artwork: Babeen (Father)
Limited-edition print.
Only 5 signed and numbered prints are available, each with an authenticity certificate.
Material: Canvas Print
Frame: Floating Tasmanian Oak
Dimensions: 100 x 100 cm
Year: 2024
Price: $2000
Babeen (Father) - Lizzy Stageman 2024
~ Created in the loving memory of my late Father, George Thomas. A piece dedicated to the fathers who no matter where they are will be forever in our hearts.
I pay my respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging and acknowledge the traditional owners of this land on which I was born and raised.
Babeen, a memoir of a great man, my father. As the sun beams through an open window and the rays reflect on the blank canvas that stares back at me. In that moment, on a day that felt different to the rest, it was time to tell the story of the late George Thomas. An emotive and expressive piece inspired by the man who deeply touched my heart and is forever in my thoughts.
My father, a British Seaman born in Portsmouth, England. Dad was a brave and honourable man, he served for his country in the British Navy, he travelled the world and was a combatant in World War II. After his last posting in Australia, his free spirit nature led him not to return to England, leaving his family behind for a new life in Australia. He was a hard worker and tried his hand at anything. He came to love the Australian bush and found himself a job as a Drover. In the mid-50s he was working on the land, droving alongside my grandfather, Frederick Gibson. He soon became loved and known amongst the drovers and local Aboriginal community, taking on the name of Pommy George, a nickname given to him by Grandfather for his strong English accent. Over many years as a drover, living in tents and horse-drawn wagons, dad often shared his memories of this time, referring to them as the best days of his life. During these years, dad met and married my mother, Lorna Thomas, they had 6 children and had a life together of over 40 years.
This is a harmonious tale of cultures coming together.
Dad and I were close, we had a bond like no other. On his passing in September 1997, a piece of me went with him that day and ever since I have felt that within. My daily thoughts and my love for dad is documented and expressively immortalised in each brush stroke of this piece of work.
The many pathways travelled across land and sea were his journey to finding his place. His early travels as a young man growing up in Portsmouth were at times tough, he grew up during war times and would travel miles by pushbike over hilly terrain just to get to school. His early lived experiences are shown by the markings that border the outside of the canvas. The wave-like brush strokes depict the many oceans sailed during his time in the navy and his venture to Australia. Throughout this piece each painted element was intended to meet to create the large circular symbol indicated, representing a meeting place or place of rest. Painted leaves in earthy tones show his arrival on Country, representing the Australian bush, dad came to call home. Intricate dot work demonstrates the many footsteps he took and the delicate lines intertwined throughout the work show dad’s final journey taken to find his place of rest.
The chosen colours are created through a blend of yellow ochre mixed with bark infused oil and the original shoe polish gathered from my father’s belongings. The colours capture the warm and kind essense of my dad, alongside the richness of the Australian landscape. The shadowed work in the foreground shows the sun setting on the land.
His unconditional love and the unique bond we shared will forever hold deep in my heart.
Until we meet again in that special place beyond, love you, Dad.
Lizzy
