Broome artist Naomie Hatherley makes her mark with solo exhibition paying tribute to women’s football

A Kimberley artist has made a special tribute to the history of women’s football in her recent exhibition, which recognises the strong community and tenacious women who make the sport what it is today. Broome-based Naomie Hatherley launched her solo exhibition Keeping Score last week, which was inspired by her passion for the history of women in football and her own experience watching the West Kimberley Women’s Football League. The Broome Senior High School art teacher said she was first inspired after watching her daughter play. “The first game of footy I watched my eldest daughter play, she broke her arm, but as soon as it healed she was straight back on the field,” she said. “I’m captivated by the fierce women who play this sport, the ones who took my daughter, in and the closeness of the communities surrounding these clubs.” The Keeping Score exhibition features a collection of paintings of women playing in the WKWFL, with some of the scenes painted from games which took place this year. Painted on vintage tin number plates which were once used to score regional matches, the artworks create a visual representation of the growth of participation in women’s football across WA. In one work, the participation numbers can be seen surging from 4000 to 22,000 in one year from 2012 to 2013 after the State held exhibition matches for women, who seized the opportunity with both hands. Hatherley used colour within her work to symbolise the sport and players on their journey to true recognition. “In some works, the players are depicted as ghosts inside the numbers, lost to AFL history,” she said. “But stepping outside the numbers, they are depicted in colour, no longer passive observers but active participants, seen and counted.” The artist plans to donate a 25 per cent commission on all sales at her exhibition to the WKWFL. Hatherley said she wanted to give back and support the women and the female football community. “It’s not just a sport, it’s a community of amazing women who pull together in ways that extend bey-ond team and game,” she said. “The tenacity, the team spirit and support these women share is incredibly inspiring. “I want to pay homage to their contribution and draw attention to them in any way I can.” The Keeping Score exhibition will be on display at the Cool Change Contemporary art gallery in Perth until July 24.