The 2025 City of Rockingham Art Prize exhibition, curated by Sandra Murray, featured works by 76 exceptional finalists across a range of artistic mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and mixed media.

SUE LEEMING - ARTIST STATEMENT

'Afterglow’ responds to a lingering positive feeling or sense of relief that remains after a traumatic experience like a fire, even though the immediate danger has passed; it represents gratitude for survival and hope for rebuilding despite the devastation. The ‘afterglow’ also acts as a coping mechanism, helping survivors find strength and meaning to move forward with renewed purpose

We are all familiar with and keenly attuned to the seasonal warnings to stay alert, to take action and protect ourselves and others, and yet, I have often mistaken the glow of a fire in the hills for a sunset or a spectacular bank of clouds only to discover thetruth of what I’m looking at. I find that am drawn to that familiar feeling of both awe and dread experienced when I realise it is indeed a fire. A powerful force that brings with it life and death.

‘Ko te whenua ko au, ko au ko te whenua’

‘I am the land and the land is me’