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It is known that we choose our family before we are born, for me I get a great deal of comfort knowing this, for me it is very true. I was adopted at birth, I have always known this. My mum is my best friend, she is my confidant in times of sadness and pain. She is my guiding light in times when I have lost my way. I share everything with her as she does me. She is my hero, especially now that I have my own children, seeing the sacrifices she has made along the way and is still sacrificing so much for our wellbeing. I celebrate her daily for all she does, we celebrate together the wonderful things that we achieve on a daily basis no matter how small they appear to be. She is always there for me – how privileged I am to have her in my life. I met my birth mother once I had children of my own, I understood what a sacrifice it must have been to give me up. The first words that I muttered out of my mouth when I met her was, “I am so proud of you, and thank you”. She was quite baffled by this and then I explained. Through your unconditional sacrifice I have been given a wonderful life, the doors have been opened to me in so many ways. I have been loved unconditionally and have had the devotion of my mum and dad behind me all the way – how blessed I have been. The dual figures that I have weaved signify my mothers, my mum is holding a babe in arms a gift from the universe. My birthmother is present within this figure, her face is at the back of my mums head. She wasn’t physically there during my many years without her, yet spiritually she never left. This figure is a homage to my mothers, a recognition of respect and admiration, to hold them in great esteem, adulation and worship. Lisa Waup, 2016emu feathers, parrot feathers, ostrich feathers, tapa cloth, fibre, crow’s feet, parrot feet, parrot wings, possum fur, seeds, raffia, woodmother and child, sculpure, weaving, lisa waup, torres strait islander, gunditjmara, indigenous, handcraft, chosen before birth, adoption, emu, feather, possum, mother, child

The cross design in refinding tomorrow represents a converging of pathways – pathways of connection that are coming together to ultimately form a whole. The crossroads is a powerful symbol of a moment in time, a positive reminder of the past and a chance to ponder the future. There is movement through time in these designs and a chance that something lost will be found again. I trust that I will always carry with me in my heart, body and spirit, the wisdom of knowledge from my ancestors.Lisa Waup is a mixed-cultural First Nations artist and curator who was born in Narrm (Melbourne). Her multidisciplinary practice encompasses a diverse range of media including weaving, printmaking, photography, sculpture, fashion, and digital art. With a deep connection to the symbolic power of materials, Lisa’s work reflects her personal experiences, family history, Country, and broader historical narratives. Through her practice, Lisa weaves together threads of lost history, ancestral relationships, motherhood, and the passage of time – which culminates in contemporary expressions that speak to her past, present and future. Lisa Waup holds a Master of Contemporary Art from the University of Melbourne and her work is held in both public and private collections in Australia and internationally. australian first nations art, indigenous art, identity, cultural story, women in art