Davinder Hart / Meeting Place (DH301)

Davinder Hart is a proud Indigenous artist from Perth, Western Australia, with ancestral ties to the Bibbulmun and Katanning mob in the southwest of the Noongar nation. Born in Perth, he spent his early years in Adelaide, where he lived until he was 17.

In 2013, Davinder travelled to Uluru (Yulara) to work as an Indigenous activities presenter at Ayers Rock Resort. There, he shared his culture with international guests, presenting workshops on boomerang and spear throwing, bush tucker tours, didgeridoo playing, and traditional dance. During this time, he built strong connections with his colleagues, whom he now regards as his brothers and cultural teachers.

Over the past decade, he has continued learning from them, deepening his cultural knowledge and sharing it through his artworks. In 2015, Davinder left the Northern Territory to continue learning from his cultural teachers on Country in New South Wales. His artworks embody the wisdom passed down by his cultural grandfather and uncles. Through painting, he navigates the modern world, deeply influenced by traditional Ngurrumpa (Dreaming) stories and applying their important lessons in real time.

Throughout his artistic journey, Davinder has travelled extensively, working in Far North Queensland and rural Victoria, where he has continued to share his culture and art. These experiences have allowed him to connect with diverse communities, deepen his understanding of Country, and further develop his artistic expression.

Davinder’s artistic practice spans custom commissions, art workshops, original paintings, fine art prints, live painting events, digital illustrations, and book illustrations. He has collaborated with businesses and organizations, including Hearing Australia, with whom he co-created a children’s book to highlight the importance of hearing health for Indigenous children.

With over a decade of art experience, Davinder has showcased his work in multiple well-established galleries across Australia. In 2023, he was invited to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the United Nations World Tourism Day gala event, where he performed a live painting during the celebration.

As a dedicated family man, Davinder is committed to sharing his culture with the world while continuing to learn the ways of his ancestors. He also strives to pass this knowledge on to future generations, including his own children, ensuring the traditions and stories remain alive. He pays his respects to his uncle, Waylon Boney, and his grandfather, Paul Gordon, whose teachings continue to inspire his journey.

Meeting place is one of Davinder’s most painted stories; there are many variations of this painting, but the story is always the same. Colours do not always necessarily have meaning although for certain pieces it may. For example, blue for water and natural earth colours for the landscapes.

There are many different meeting places around Australia where we have gathered since traditional times keeping the stories alive. Going to these places you learn about several things, depending on what site you are at. Some will give you directions towards a destination point while other places can teach you about the landscapes and the stars in the sky.

We have stories for everything. Including the importance of sharing and the consequences of being greedy. When we all come together for big gatherings everyone is on the same page and follows the lore. Different mobs have different stories, but all have the same lessons. That is how we build our connections.