Article 15
Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Eva Heiky Olga Abbinga
About my work
My family came to Australia after World War II: Ukrainian refugees on my mother’s side and Dutch immigrants on my father’s side. Both sides were seeking a safe place to raise their families. While my Dutch family strongly believed in assimilation, for my mother’s parents, holding onto their culture was crucial in maintaining a link to their homeland and carrying on their ancestors’ traditions. As a child I was taught Ukrainian dancing, learnt the bandura and was a Ukrainian Scout.
My work draws on the personal, using batik and hand-embroidery to create the Article, which has been translated into the Ukrainian language. While Australia offers my family sanctuary, it also has policies that keep other refugee families in appalling conditions and disadvantage the Indigenous people of this land. I question the concept of nationalism and identity politics in a globalised world, and dream of a time when all people live in peace and harmony.
- Eva Heiky Olga Abbinga
About me
Eva Abbinga is a cross-disciplinary visual artist motivated by an interest in the complexities of place, identity and sustainability. Through large-scale soft sculpture, textiles and photography, Eva explores issues of social, environmental and economic concern and aims to create a dialogue with the viewer that questions existing notions of the urban ideal. Her practice is informed by her Dutch and Ukrainian heritage as well as her experience in urban planning. Eva works collaboratively with other artists, community groups and craftspeople.
She is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.
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