Lilli Waters

Lilli Waters’ body of work, 'Pay Attention to the Heavens', is inspired by the iconography of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, its folklore, and its religious paintings, recasting the contemporary woman as a powerful goddess of nature and a portrayal of femininity that we should celebrate, embrace, and worship.

Says Waters of this work: “This photograph was taken in the Tidal River on Yiruk Wamoon, the land of the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai people. The river runs into the bay, swells with the tide and has a fascinating range of colours, purple-yellow and emerald. On this day the rising tide created a singularly enchanting sandy whirlpool I’d never seen here before. The water glistened in the morning sun, sparkling on the women’s skin, creating warmth and aliveness as the women slipped under the water.

“These god-like female figures submerge and reemerge, playful, yet with purpose and almost ritualistic. The dramatic watery clouds appear alive and this dreamlike, ethereal playground encircles these swirling figures. The sun was beautifully peering through the clouds that morning, creating a soft shard of light that brought them an angelic-like glow. I like to imagine that these women are sensual and mysterious gatekeepers that rule the underworld, dancing in the playful hours. The silent brooding surge surrounding them is their refuge, perhaps a pathway to enlightenment.”