This work speaks to the deep connections woven through the landscape, where the spirit of place existed long before the physical world took shape. ‘Before’ traces the lines of Country, the colours of the Merri Creek and the unseen threads that hold the memory of place through time. ‘My art is a way to honour the timeless essence of this place, the stories that live beneath the surface, and the spirit that continues to guide us. Through these connections, we are reminded that we are not separate from Country but an extension of it—a part of a story that began in the spirit itself. Before is a tribute to that time and the ongoing presence of spirit in all things.

Artist Biography

Peter Hood (Kurnai / Yorta Yorta) is a multidisciplinary First Nations artist, maker and cultural educator based in Melbourne. Hood discovered his love of drawing and making as a child, working with paper, pen, and pencil, and learning from his mother (a painter and maker) and his brother, also a talented artist. For Hood, creating art is a meditative process that allows him to retell stories of dreaming, language, and identity through his own experience and perspective. Often drawing on narratives passed down through generations, he infuses his artistic voice into deeply layered works that hold a sense of continuity, Country and connection.

Alongside his art practice, Hood also serves as a cultural educator, a role he cherishes deeply. He works with school groups and clients from the not-for-profit, government and commercial sectors in his work, sharing his knowledge and personal experience. His mission as a cultural educator is to foster connections and understanding among diverse communities, facilitating opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual respect. Hood’s practice represents his profound commitment to sharing his knowledge, storytelling and artistic expression and building a shared sense of connection and respect.