Australia Day In Sydney has revealed James P. Simon has designed this year’s Dawn Reflection projection in consultation with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council with a work titled River Life.
Born in Wellington, near Dubbo NSW, he belongs to the Wiradjuri – Biripi people & has painted all his life. He grew up around Newtown and Redfern in Sydney, where he has seen many changes over the last 50 years.
Although he completed a 6-month art course, James is largely self-taught continuing to develop his own distinctive style, which mainly involves oils. In 1987, he was awarded a grant from the Aboriginal Arts Council.
His work, which extensively features commissions, is found in many collections, which has been included in lots of exhibitions & publications. His favourite artists are Picasso, Tom Roberts, Salvador Dali & Albert Namatjira.
At the end of this article is a statement from James P. Simon about River Life.
Australia Day In Sydney‘s Dawn Reflection is held at 5:20am Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the 26th of January on the western sails of the Sydney Opera House.
For Aboriginal people, fishing anywhere on Country, whether it is on the ocean beaches or coastal estuaries or inland rivers & lakes, it has always been about more than simply collecting food. We have this connection to water, with spirit, culture, songlines, our dreaming.
Waterways also form tribal boundaries. Waterways are critical to the culture & wellbeing of Aboriginal communities. Water provides food, medicine, tools, kinship, connection, recreation, stories, songlines & healing. It can be deeply spiritual. A chance for people to connect with their ancestors.
Water is seen as a living entity with its own spirit & it is believed that we have a responsibility to protect and care for it. For our peoples, water is not just a commodity but a language, a community & a source of knowledge and law.
Our Country encompasses land, water, sea and sky & the connections between them. Cultural flows are essential for Our People to continue their spiritual relationship with Country.
James P. Simon, ‘Dawn Reflection’ 2025 – ‘River Life’ Artist
Sydney Spectaculars 