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Leon’s Q2032 design to unite communities through emotive storytelling

A close-up of a hand with a stylus over a First Nations design of a Q on a screen

First Nations

09 May 2024

2 mins

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games just over eight years away, Queenslanders are asking, ‘what do the Games mean for me’, and ‘how can I get involved’?

Queue the launch of the Q2032 digital platform, a website to engage, inform and excite Queenslanders with everything they need to know about the Games, what developments they can expect to see in their neighbourhoods, and what opportunities exist for businesses leading into the Games.

In developing the Q2032 platform, Aboriginal artist Keisha Leon was engaged to express what 2032 would mean for Queensland, by creating a vision that captured the spirit of 'a Games for all of Queensland'.

A proud Waanyi-Kalkadoon woman born in Mount Isa on Kalkadoon Country, Leon is the founder of the Brisbane based First Nations-led multidisciplinary creative studio, Cause/Affect.

Having spent a lot of time on Kalkadoon, Yuwi (Mackay) and Meanjin (Brisbane) Country, Leon drew inspiration from her heritage and the landscapes of her hometowns to design the elements of the Q2032 brand.

Aboriginal artist Keisha Leon is smiling at the camera.

"I wanted to capture the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games by creating an artwork that brings people together."

Keisha Leon

Basing her design on the Q2032 motto of ‘All Queensland. All In.’, Leon’s design centers around creating connection and joy with the 2032 Games through four main themes present in the work.

“Queensland is a diverse state with diverse country and communities, and so the artwork essentially puts them all into different themes,” she explained.

“There’s Future Thinking, which is the value that communities get from being part of the Games as well as the legacy that it leaves.

“Connection; so that’s thinking about grassroots sports and sports in general.

“Country; the impact on the land.

“And Community; so that’s the inclusivity, diversity, accessibility and bringing communities of people together.”

All four themes are captured inside the 'Q,' which represents the overall Games narrative for Queensland.

Aboriginal Artist Keisha Leon sits at a computer with a file open editing her Q2032 artwork

In 2032, Leon is looking forward to taking her family to the Games and is excited by the eight-year runway Queensland has to tell the First Nations stories of our state through the Games opportunities.

“I am hoping that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games bring people together and gives us a chance to tell Queensland’s story to both the nation and the world,” she said.

“Not just the modern stories of Queensland, but the rich First Nations stories that have existed here for tens of thousands of years.”

WATCH: Meet Keisha Leon; the artist behind the Q2032 All Queensland, All In artwork