Artworks are first available for purchase by sponsors and dignitaries before being available in person at the Exhibition in Brisbane. Unsold artworks can also be purchased online following the event.
"This piece is dedicated to my son (a teacher) and my daughter (an artist). It’s about failing my children and championing them.
This artwork serves to communicate the process of rebuilding my relationship with my beautiful children. It grieves the time we have lost and celebrates the joy of discovering the present.
The colours, patterns and themes explored in this piece are inspired by the touching documentary, ‘My Octopus Teacher’. Through this piece, I examine the earth and the sea; my struggle to breathe and exist underwater and on land.
Fundamentally, I know it's about hope, love, resilience and always working hard to become the best version of myself."
Jaq Van Damme is a Brisbane-based artist. She has multiple personalities/dissociative identity disorder and has also been diagnosed with level two autism and ADHD. Jaq has more than one alter (alternative personality) artist and works primarily with oil and acrylic.
In 2015, Jaq testified at the Royal Commission into sexual abuse in institutions and began creating art to cope.
Jaq now spends every moment creating colourful canvases and rescued furniture. She enjoys nature and working with bright colours and repetitive patterns.