The gathering is the outcome from the final workshop with the Muslim women in Canberra. Fatima's idea is nurtured by the gathering of women back in her homeland, Morocco, during the harvest season. This time is usually celebrated as women get together to help each other and prepare wheat to make bread for their community. The hand prints are unified with an Islamic floral motif, the eight cornered star; the khatam is the centre piece. It lies underneath the wheat, the most revered grain and the most generous provision in the Muslim world. This work is born straight from the women's community workshop: it remembers their own stories, input and physical markings.

Fatima Killeen is a Moroccan-born artist with numerous accolades to her name. She currently resides in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory where she creates paintings, collages and prints. Her work has been exhibited in over 60 solo and group exhibitions with residencies in Australia, Jordan and Morocco. In 2017, Fatima received the International Honour Award for Moroccan Art and Culture, and the Australian/African Award of Excellence in 2016. Acquisition highlights include the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the National Museum of Australia and the Islamic Museum of Australia. Fatima was awarded the Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize 2021.

Community credit: Australian Muslim Women - Canberra, Canberra Islamic Centre.

Part of the Conversations of compromises series, this artwork was originally exhibited at No added sugar (2012) at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney.

Images courtesy of the artist.