Peter Daverington, The Raft of the Clan, 2018, oil and acrylic on canvas, 260 x 397 cm.
PETER DAVERINGTON'S The Raft of the Clan is featured in Out of darkness: A survivor's journey, which opens today Art Gallery of Ballarat.
Out of the darkness: A survivor’s journey is an exhibition of works collected, commissioned and curated by Robert House, a survivor of child sexual abuse. The memories of House’s childhood experiences have continued to haunt him and affect his mental wellbeing, but he has employed determination and resilience to become an advocate for survivors, and work towards a more just society.
House has developed a passion for art, becoming convinced of its ability to represent the complexity of the trauma and other emotions experienced by survivors. He has commissioned, collected and created art, building a unique collection of works that reveal the journey of our society as it comes to terms with this shocking history. His collection reflects his personal journey, carrying the message that the voices of survivors should be heard and responded to with compassion and understanding.
“This was a difficult subject to portray,” says Daverington. “I settled on the idea of survival at sea as a metaphor for the survivors of child abuse - they were abused by a system entrusted with their care. I chose Gericault’s, ‘raft of the Medusa’ (in the louvre) as a source of inspiration… The young people in my painting are empowered, fighting for their rights and protesting injustice. This is a tribute to the people of the CLAN (Care Leavers Australia Network) , who after years of protest, have their voices finally heard. The portraits on the border are significant individuals involved with bringing the case to a royal commission. They include former prime ministers, politicians, royal commissioners and CLAN members.”
The exhibition continues to 1 August.
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