The word Giirrwaa translates roughly to ‘community’ in the language of the Gumaynggirr people. Through his aptly titled artwork, Otis Hope Carey grants his audience access to a personal narrative which details journeys and experiences derived from his life.

Giirrwaa reflects the 1960s Op Art movement, championed by artists such as Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely, and also draws on the inherent influence of the traditional style and techniques of Hope Carey’s Gumbaynggirr community. A series of metaphoric topographies trace fluid paths across the artwork to manifest the feelings and awareness of the bonds they share with one another within the community. The contour lines and movement create a powerful viewing experience that marries visual immediacy with the spiritual and conceptual nature of Otis Hope Carey’s contemporary art practice.