Born Southern Queensland, Wakka Wakka-Kabi Kabi country in 1946. One of the stolen generation, Vincent Serico was separated from his family by white administration at four years of age. He grew up in 1950s when the policies of segregation and assimilation were at their peak, when everyone else knew what was better for ‘the black man’. Vincent held dear the sanctity of traditional stories, of language, of spirit and belief.
“I am an Aboriginal artist and I just love painting. Painting gives me confidence in myself and I can relate to people with my painting, with things I’ve done, I’ve seen, how I grew up and where I’d like to go. Painting has always been with me. I started painting when I was… well as far back as I can remember, I was always interested in it. I used to watch older boys than me as I was growing up in the Boys Home. My uncles and my aunties, they all painted and naturally, I became a painter, following them. As I grew older I started drifting around Queensland, moving around doing odd jobs, but I always fell back on painting. After work I’d keep painting and, oh jeez, I don’t think there was a moment when I didn’t have some paint brush on some jobs I’d done. Come home from work and pick up my paint brush and started again, painting things. … No matter where I am, I’ll still keep painting, because what I do I love to do it. I’ve still gotta paint some more yet. “
[Interview with Bronwyn Eather, February, 2001]
from the Fire-Works Gallery website July 2006
Vincent Serico
