I live and work on the stolen land of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. I pay my respect to First Nations people reading this, and elders past present and emerging. The settler colonial project continues today, alongside the peoples' resistance. I must consistently reflect on my practice, that it is in solidarity with this resistance, rather than metaphoric.
Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

 My art is my expression, my way of engaging and mobilising community, and my ideal form of communication. I engage with ecological and human stories to communicate and grapple with ideas of settler colonialism and what it means to live on stolen land.

I was born in Wurundjeri Country to my father, a refugee from Palestine, and mother, descended from Irish convicts. The resistance against ethnic cleansing in Palestine, Ireland and 'Australia' have all been supported by rich culture and the arts. My interest in resistance and community arts has led me to study a bachelors degree of Indigenous studies and a masters of Art Therapy. I have been engaged in community arts projects for ten years now, independantly as well as with organizations such as Kids Own Publishing, the City Of Melbourne, Footscray Community Arts Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, REDinc, CERES Joe's Market Garden and Muslim Women's Association.

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My graphic essays/comics have been published by  the University of Melbourne, Journal of Creative Arts Therapy (JoCAT), Overland Literary Journal, Samandal, Suburban Review, APAN, The REZZAdent and more.

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I accept commisions and have produced ecological illustrations for clients such as Foe, Brimbank Council, Overland Literary Journal, the City of Melbourne, Moreland City Council, Fisheries Authority, Melbourne City of Literature, Bunjil's Biik, CEREs Joe's Market Garden and more.

 

As an environmental educator I have worked for the Royal Botanic Gardens, and have also founded The Merri Kids Club, a kids outdoor program as featured on Gardening Australia, which is now an ongoing program at CERES environment park. 

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For my CV or any enquiries please e-mail sofiajsabbagh@gmail.com