The Dreamers #105 - With Artist Sarana Haeata

October 10, 2024

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Written by

The Dreamers #105 - With Artist Sarana Haeata

October 10, 2024

·

Written by

Sarana Haeata is a Maori-Australian artist based in Fremantle, WA. From her seaside studio, she dives into shared stories and identity, especially through the lens of the female experience. Influenced by the ups and downs of motherhood, her work captures a sense of freedom and surrender.

WELCOME TO THE DREAMERS.

COME INSIDE THE HOMES OF EVERYDAY FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS DOING LIFE THEIR WAY.

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Hey Sarana, tell us about your family.

Hey! My husband, Tom, and I have four daughters. There’s Isbel (12), Ivy (10), Avalon (7), and Lyra (5). They’re all beautiful legends that bring a whole lot of love, noise and kookiness into our lives. Oh, and we can’t forget our large, aggressively affectionate dog Bingo.

Fremantle is a stunning part of Australia. What’s it like to live there?

Freo is one of those places that people come to visit and stay for 20 years. It’s a little port town surrounded by beautiful beaches with a special buzz of excitement during summer. The community here has classic small-town vibes, where there’s about half a degree of separation between everyone, and everyone’s dating history overlaps in some way.

Freo’s always had a big music, art, and coffee culture scene, which makes it a fun place for young people. It usually draws a good crowd of backpackers. We’ve moved back here after three years away in the desert - mostly living in Alice Springs (also a very special place), so we’re lapping up the beach right now!

My fav spots with the kiddos are Leighton Beach, with a post-swim coffee at Orange Box, and Gage Roads Brewery, which is right on the port and has a great playground for the young ones. If we get a night off from parenting, we love an evening sauna at South Beach, which is set up in a shipping container overlooking the ocean; then, you can have a nighttime swim to cool off! Delux.

Your work focusing on the experiences of women is truly inspiring. Tell us about your creative journey and what drew you to this theme.

My work channels my experiences, and the most encompassing experience I have is that of being a woman and a mum. I became a mum at 22, which was a big learning curve. Then, by 30, I had 4 daughters. Although I love motherhood in the most fulfilling way, the way our society is structured makes it incredibly hard at times to be a mother and maintain sanity. So, painting about my feelings about the duality of motherhood or the pressures of womanhood has become an outlet and a way of connecting with other women. Hopefully, that connection can dim the loneliness we feel at times.

How has your Māori-Australian heritage shaped and influenced your artistic work?

My heritage shapes my artwork in the sense that it shapes me. Being of a mixed race has allowed me always to see things in duality. There’s an expansiveness that comes from having parents from completely different cultures. Still, some massive complexities and challenges often aren’t fully understood by either side of the extended family or your wider community. I think I find this experience similar to motherhood in many ways.

Motherhood comes with its own set of challenges. What are your top tips for overcoming them?

Prioritise your mental health! This means having some time for you - that speaks to your identity outside of being a mum. If you have a partner/co-parent, I’d recommend couples counselling even/especially when things are good so that you become well-practised at clear communication and problem-solving when things aren’t so good. Go easy on yourself. Be ok with change and altering expectations. Also, having friends with similar-aged kids is so helpful. You can compare notes and not feel alone in your insanity! Buy yourself flowers and chocolate regularly. The chocolate, I’d say, is probably a necessity every day.

Could you share one of your favourite pieces of artwork with us? What’s the story or inspiration behind it? ?

This changes, but one of my current favourite pieces is Calm Place (pictured below) - this is the first time I’ve painted a mother and child together. I painted it while one of my girls was experiencing a particularly hard time at school, and my world revolved around worrying for her and the stress she was experiencing daily. Something that can shake you is the fear of your child not being understood, and you want to protect them and keep them safe in a calm place.

Calm Place

How do you manage running a business with being a mama?

Oh god. It can be tough at times. When I started working for myself, I would stay up late at night after the kids went to bed or try to work in 20-minute grabs throughout the day when they were little. The plus side is it allows for flexible working hours, but the downside is it’s really difficult to have a healthy work-life balance. So, the biggest tip I could give is to create good boundaries! And do a short business course. This would’ve been very helpful for me haha!

Fav Banabae pieces?

I’m loving my The World Needs More Kindness tee! I also love the socks - they’re super comfy and the perfect little pop of colour.

Shop Sarana's favourites:

The World Needs Kindness Hemp Tee - Adults - AUD $69.95

Rad Mama and Lilac Rib Organic Cotton Sock Pack - AUD $49.00

Banabae and Good Sport Organic Cotton Sock Pack - AUD $39.00

The World Needs Kindness Hemp Tee - Kids - AUD $37.65

Sarana Haeata

Sarana Haeata explores the beauty and nuances held in shared stories, collective and individual identity, with a particular focus on the female experience.

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The Dreamers #105 - With Artist Sarana Haeata

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