Kuldip by Aneeljot Johal

As a seventeen-year-old Indian Australian female growing up in Brisbane, I look to my mother as a beacon. In my photographic portrait I wanted to capture that sense of light and vibrancy that she provides me daily. 

As a traditional Sikh woman, she arrived in Brisbane in 1998 after an arranged marriage, speaking no English and without any family ties. Her story is one of courage and endurance. She has taught me to be proud of my rich culture and religion. I wanted to express this using her beautiful Punjabi shawl with its elaborate embroidery. For her the language is still somewhat a barrier but she has given me the voice and confidence in this country. Hence, I wanted to capture her wise spirit, her enlightened soul.