This year’s limited-edition range artists, Sarrita and Tarisse King, are second generation artists and the daughters of great indigenous artist William King Jungala.
Growing into prolific artists in their own right, Tarisse, based in NZ and Sarrita on Larrakia Country, Northern Territory, are always investigating other mediums to express their stories, which has resulted in a range of collaborations and public projects.
A collaboration between the sisters, this year’s limited-edition artwork, ‘My Country’s Story’, beautifully captures the diverse landscapes of Australia’s Top End, reflecting on the lives of families and communities who inhabit the land.
My Country’s Story is a fusion of two artworks: Tarisse King’s ‘My Country’ and Sarrita Kings Language of the Earth’.
The aerial view of ‘My Country reflects’ on different landscapes, and specifically references Australia’s Top End, where the King Sisters grew up. The artwork Language of the Earth can be seen to tear through the country reflecting on the families and communities who live on the land, with the different strokes and dots expressing the ever-changing growth of community, connection, and culture.
“Sarrita and I got together to tell a story on a canvas and ended up creating a painting that was reflective of us and our journey,” Tarisse explains.
“We have been painting this story in collaboration for years, half the canvas each, to create the work that you see on the limited-edition frames.
“To see our art, that tells our story, used to give back to our mob through the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation is so important to us. As an Aboriginal woman who practices storytelling, I want to use my skills to uplift my people, especially as we are predisposed to so many more issues than others and poor eye health is so common, especially in Indigenous communities.”
The frame front features a polished translucent burgundy acetate, these rectangular frames will suit most face shapes.
These round sunglasses are crafted from polished acetate and feature a keyhole bridge.
These square sunglasses are crafted from polished acetate and feature a keyhole bridge.
The King sisters have given permission for their artwork to be transferred onto the frames, with $25 from each pair sold donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation.
To date, Specsavers has contributed more than $7.6 million towards The Foundation’s programs in Australia. Now in its 13th year of the partnership and with this 8th limited-edition range, Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation are working towards the mutual goal of closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples eye health.
