Local artist and Wayilwan man Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh’s ceramics will be transformed into giant inflatables to feature in the Winter Wonderlights exhibition in Sovereign Hill from 28 June to 28 July. 

People are doing cool things with inflatables in the art industry," said Artistic Director Nicholas Tory, who is coordinating the exhibition.

"Sooty’s ceramics are very inflatable-friendly."

Three of Sooty's designs will be translated into forms 3.5 to 4 metres high.

“It’s essentially like a jumping castle – special vinyl with lighting inside that will glow at night instead of physical art forms.”

Each statue will contain about 400 kilos of ballast in it to keep it on the ground. 

“It will bring Sooty's ceramic designs to a much bigger scale that hopefully more people can connect with,” Nicholas said. 

“Most importantly his work is about using the traditional visual language from that area of NSW, these carving patterns are a wonderful abstract language that denotes a centuries-old culture.

"I think it's a very special project and it's an honour to work with him on it.”

Sooty has been making art ever since he can remember, starting with drawings as a kid and then progressing to woodwork and photography. 

Ceramics, however, holds a special place in his heart after helping him overcome bouts of depression. 

“I had friends of mine say, ‘Look, you’ve got to get out and do something and not sit around at home and have too much time thinking.’”

The inflatables will not be too different to these conceptual images for sculptures derived from Sooty's designs that were originally proposed for Vivid 2023 IMAGE SUPPLIED.

A friend he met through work introduced him to ceramics. She was a direct descendant of the local Aboriginal people and had her own studio where she ended up teaching Sooty the art form. 

“Ceramics has really helped me with my depression.”

The colours for the inflatables are not certain yet, but Sooty already has some ideas. “I was thinking purple maybe because that’s my mother’s favourite colour.” 

He also wants to honour a brother by making another one of the inflatables, either black and yellow or black and orange. 

The third inflatable will likely be black and white. “I just like the contrasting colours,” the artist said. 

Other artists presenting at Winter Wonderlights include Wathaurung/Wadawurrung Elder Marlene Gilson. 

“She does beautiful painting and members of her family have designed and built bronze sculptures for a permanent sculpture garden,” Nicholas said. 

Ceramics to Sooty means finding a connection to his culture and family. 

“Ceramics has helped me connect to my country and family. I am almost 67 years old. It was only in the past three years I have found a real connection with country.”

Sooty is part of the Stolen Generation. At the age of four, he was taken from his family home in Coonamble and moved to Rooty Hill in Western Sydney. 

He returned to his family at the age of 15 but had trouble establishing a close bond with his family. “My family connection was broken.”

Kevin 'Sooty' Welsh is excited at the turn his artistic career has taken. IMAGE SUPPLIED

Ceramics opened the door for Sooty to build a bond again to his roots and now he wants to share his passion with other people. 

“It’s about educating people as to the different styles that our mob have. As much as our mob are alike, we are also very different.”

Sooty’s artistic talent has presented him with opportunities to travel for exhibitions and workshops but the most rewarding part for him is the process of creating art and seeing the effect his art has on other people.

“It’s not about the money. It’s about the pleasure of making art and people enjoying it.”