Tiarna Herczeg’s I Have Always Existed, 2024, is part of her 2024 solo exhibition, Through Coloured Glass.

Tiarna is a proud Kuku Yalanji and Hungarian woman who aims to share her experience of dual identity through storytelling. This body of work tells many stories in Tiarna’s life; certain experiences have circled her back to a preoccupation with colour and form. In her work, the block shapes symbolise how she sees the land, whilst the colours are tied to her mind and body, her spirituality and feelings. One exists in perpetuity and the other only exists for a moment in time.

Through Coloured Glass is a metaphorical expression that refers to seeing things in a distorted or biased way. It symbolises viewing the world through a lens that alters or skews reality, often influenced by personal beliefs, biases or emotions. Tiarna invites viewers to peer through the kaleidoscope of her experiences, where personal narratives intertwine with cultural heritage.