Michael Philp Bio

Born on the 27th of October 1966 at Murwillumbah hospital.

I grew up at Tweed Heads, then when I was five my parents moved to Kirra. I went to several schools and left high school on the 27th of July 1981, half way through year nine. My brother got me a job with Thiess Bros. earthmoving contractors, got big money for a fifteen and half year old.

I chucked that job in and began a career of drinking and drug taking, that lasted for the next twenty years. My father was a violent drunk, bashing my mother for more years then I care to remember. My father was a very hard man, who showed little or no emotions. My upbringing was very di!cult for me living in a world of make believe, this was one way that I managed to survive, listening to music on the radio.

I always felt and thought that I was different to other people. I didn’t feel as though I fitted in, so when I was fourteen and started drinking, taking drugs, I thought that I started to feel normal.

My big dream was to be a professional singer “a rock star”. In 1992 a year after my mother died, I was accepted into a music course for aboriginal people, in Adelaide Centre. I studied music (CASM), 3 years later I graduated in 1995.

Whilst Studying, I met my sons mother. We had a relationship for several years, it was very rocky, with my alcoholism and violence getting way out of hand.

In 1998 my son Rory was born, it was the proudest day in my life. I thought now I’ll get my act together and stop drinking and be a father, it was not be. Eventually my ex-partner separated from me. I went on one hell of a bender that lasted about 18 months. I was out of control and missed my baby boy it was painful.

Finally in October of 2000. I’d enough of the insanity and loneliness of alcohol, I “chucked the towel in”. I’ve been sober and clean for nearly ten years. I have my son back in my life, and we have a special relationship, that I hope to god I don’t stuff up. I’ve made amends with his mother, and we're fairly good friends these days.

Five years ago, I burnt out working as a teacher’s aid with Koori kids in primary schools. A friend of mine at the time, suggested that I do some painting, she said that it might help me with my depression. I was sceptical having such a low opinion of myself, so I had a go at it, it was fantastic, it made me feel better. I noticed that I was painting like a man possessed, I couldn’t stop painting and this friend of mine said to me one day that she thought my paintings were amazing, again I just laughed it off. I was quiet happy to paint, but I never thought anything would come of it. Slowly other people started to tell me the same thing, that they were impressed with my art. I initially sold a couple of paintings privately, then a friend of mine said that there was a group of people trying to get local aboriginal artists into a book, showcasing their work. She said to me that she thought I should try to get into it. I kept saying “yeah” but didn’t really mean it. Then I saw her again and she said ‘did you contact that mob’ I said ‘no’ she said hysterically ‘it closes on the weekend here ring this woman’ so I did, The organiser had a yarn to me about my work and a bit about my background, then the next couple of days a photographer came to my house, to take some photos of my work, this person was freaking out about my paintings, she kept saying Ive got to call Frances, and tell her that she sees your work, before the final decision is made, as to who will be in this local publication. The lady said “you have to be in it. I got in the book! the top 25 out of many local aboriginal artists!! I felt very proud, my art has gone on from there.

I’ve been in several exhibitions, got a commendation in the New South Wales Premier Art Prize. This year my painting ‘The Warrior’ was accepted into a traveling exhibition of Regional Galleries of New South Wales. I am happy with the direction my art is going and to be now working with Fred Torres, with the  support of Dacou an Indigenous owned Gallery, it is with great pride that I am able to exhibit and say I am happy fellow.