“The work is both a joyous celebration and symbolic acknowledgement of the resilience of women and non-binary sports players, in particular the Matildas, who have persevered, despite the challenges, assumptions, and categories they may have been placed in. It presents a significant endorsement of the cultural impact the Matildas have made in the representation of women in sport and the empowerment of young people to imagine new and exciting futures as fully realised. 

This work continues my interest in figurative painting and the ways in which women, culturally diverse and LGBTQIA+ people deserve to be represented and celebrated. 

The studies, figures and backgrounds for the work were hand painted in my studio using watercolour and oil paint. Following this, I photographed each figure and uploaded them to my computer as vignettes that make up a larger work. Utilising photoshop, I cut out, reconfigured, and reassembled the vignettes to create the final composition. 

Adorning the threshold of a space with vibrant colours, the work incorporates the symbolism of the ‘rangoli’ which is a type of artform derived from the Indian subcontinent. It felt fitting as Rangoli are traditionally made by girls or women, it represents the happiness, positivity and liveliness of those within the space and is considered auspicious as it signifies the showering of good luck and prosperity beyond the threshold. This serves to also honour the excited audiences entering the Accor Stadium. Historically powdered limestone or calcite is used, with traditional shapes of flowers and geometry, here I have reimagined the materiality into water colour and oil paint, and the composition as women, figures in movement. 

The colour symbolism in the work reflects joy, resilience, celebration and honours the colours that the Matildas wore during the FIFA World Cup in 2023. Importantly it incorporates the surrounding environment, including the ‘Magic Pathways’ mural, the vibrant pavement artwork next to Olympic Park train station that aims to communicate the diversity, intersectionality, and brilliance of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

This visual relationship means that the proposed work also begins to create a dialogue between leaving the train station with the magic pathways and walking towards the entrance of Accor stadium to the Matildas artwork. “Let’s meet at the Matildas” creates a narrative for a meeting space, it draws in new and old audiences alike, creating multiple access points to the work, inviting inclusivity, to experience new passageways, start new conversations and write new stories. 

The expression on the faces and the body reflects determination, passion and fortitude, challenging outdated notions of women in sports. Ultimately, the work is centred on multiple narratives, empowering young people who are from the LGBTQIA+ community and/or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, creating a space where many groups can come together to recognise themselves as deserving of a pursuit of excellence, joy and celebration, like the Matildas.” 

– Kirthana Selvaraj