Mirror Mirror
Donella Robinson
- Sitter: Donella Robinson
- Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
- Dimensions: 42cm x 52cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
In this self-portrait, Donella Robinson sits alone, digesting the harrowing news that she requires brain surgery. In recent years, Robinson has experienced burst brain aneurysms, resulting in two craniectomies.
“The helmet is prominent within the portrait just as it is in my real life… No-one understands what is takes to survive something like this. Painting has been very therapeutic in my recovery both mentally and physically.”
In this painting, the concern and fear on Robinson’s face is palpable. By placing herself in the corner of a mirror, she conveys a sense of isolation and detachment, as though watching herself from a distance. The presence of her phone, originally picked up to take a selfie, anchors the scene in everyday life, contrasting sharply with the gravity of the moment. The composition reflects her attempt to process the shock, vulnerability and uncertainty that comes with confronting a life-altering diagnosis.
About the artist
Donella Robinson is a self-taught painter and stoneware artist based in Brisbane, where she has lived and worked for 25 years. Her work primarily captures “everyday Brisbane,” documenting the city’s ongoing transformation. Through painting and sculpture, she reflects on the familiar streets, shifting skyline and personal moments that make Brisbane, for her, a constant and beloved home.
