“I don’t really have a plan when I start a piece – it just happens.  I see a colour, then shapes and then the dragonfly appears, taking its rightful place in the totality of the picture.”

Anny Bargo aka Antoinette Braybrook was born and has lived in Victoria on Wurundjeri country all of her life.
Says Anny, “My family line is to Kuku Yalanji in Far North Queensland, through my grandfather, Billy Bargo and my mum, Wanda Bargo (Braybrook). Dragonfly is our dreaming. “

Anny also serves as CEO of Djirra. Djirra (the Woiwurrung word for the reed used by Wurundjeri women for basket weaving) provides support to Aboriginal people who are currently experiencing family violence or have in the past.

Anny says, it was COVID 19 and the unforeseen and dramatic Melbourne lockdown that gave her the opportunity to take some time out from her 18 – year role as CEO of Djirra. It was during this time that she found Dragonfly Dreaming and her  journey began.

To date, Anny has created over 40 stories on canvas. Every one of them has a dragonfly or several – sometimes prominent but other times not.

You can follow Anny on Instagram at @annybargo_art or antoinette_braybrook.

Read on for the inspiration behind these beautiful paintings by Anny in our Main Ward Block, at Northern Hospital Epping.

 

Dragonfly Dreaming – My Journey – Wild Wreath Flowers from the Sky ©
Inspired by photos a friend once showed me many years ago when they visited the wild wreath flowers in Western Australia, Dragonfly dances enjoying the color of the night.

 

Dragonfly Dreaming – My Journey – Tree of life ©
Inspired by the beautiful swirls on the trunk of the tree and the secrets it holds and stories it tells.  The flowers and the raindrops and the golden sun beaming on its side while Dragonfly dances.

 

Dragonly Dreaming – My Journey – Beautiful Storm ©
Dragonfly powers through the storm taking the right path creating songlines for others to follow.

 

Dragonfly Dreaming – my journey – Meeting for a yarn – family ©
Dragonfly travels across the land, over the hills and along the river to meet with others to share stories of their journey.

Northern Health acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which Northern Health’s campuses are built, the Wurundjeri people, and pay our respects to elders past and present and emerging.