Illuminated – Self Portrait by Beth Thompson

Beth Thompson is a queer artist and descendant of the Wulli Wulli people of the North Burnett region. Thompson began their studies with limited connection to this heritage, a distance that became a central focus of their artistic expression. Through repeated visits to their ancestral lands, Thompson has cultivated deep relationships with both the Wulli Wulli community and the natural environment.

In this striking self-portrait, Thompson is depicted with red dirt on their head, torso and hands, which are crossed over their chest in a gesture of protection, reverence, self-honour and ancestral connection. The natural pigment contrasts against the stark background and symbolises their reclamation of Wulli Wulli identity. The portrait reflects broader themes of reconnection, cultural continuity and the body as a living archive of memory and identity.

“As someone reconnecting with my heritage and navigating culture, the self-portrait became a powerful tool for reflection and storytelling. It allowed me to express the complexity of my cultural and personal experiences from an embodied perspective, using my own image as both subject and site of transformation.”