Meet our Reconciliation Action Plan artist, Daniel Apps

Daniel Apps is a Dharug Boorooberongal artist and designer whose work reflects a deep connection to culture, Country, and community —as well as the cultural heritage and landscapes that shaped his upbringing.

We are incredibly honoured to feature Daniel Apps as the artist for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and to showcase his artwork on the cover of our RAP report, and even more honoured to be able to sit down with him and talk about his journey as an artist.

What inspired you to become an artist?

Becoming an artist was a natural progression for me—it’s something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. As a child, my mum encouraged us to draw, create papier-mâché, and make things with our hands. Growing up in the bush, there wasn’t a lot of entertainment, so we were always making our own fun.

My dad, a tradie with a talent for technical drawing, also had an artistic eye. He was into photography when we were kids, often taking black-and-white photos of our family. My first formal exposure to art came at school, and I was immediately drawn to it—being able to create what I imagined or saw in front of me just made sense.

During high school, especially while doing my HSC, I realised how much I disliked maths. At the same time, a photography class was offered as an alternative, and I jumped at the chance. I also studied visual arts and drama, which included costume design as part of my major project.

What truly inspired me to pursue art at university and beyond was the way it connects with history. Art movements reflect and respond to world events like war and famine, and they influence everything from fashion and architecture to design. Through art, I learned about other cultures, global events, and histories. That perspective was transformative for me.

What does it mean to you to be an artist?

Being an artist is deeply personal. For a long time, I’d simply tell people what I did for a full-time job, without mentioning that I was an artist. It’s only in recent years that I’ve felt comfortable claiming that title publicly.

I think people often have fixed ideas about what it means to be an artist, and that can lead to conversations I’d rather not have—especially when the feedback is negative or dismissive. But for me, making art is about joy and expression. I create because it makes me happy, and I love experimenting with different mediums and seeing a piece come together.

Art is hard to put into words—it's a feeling, a drive. I recently experienced temporary vision loss, and the only thing I could think about was how devastating it would be not to be able to create art anymore. That made me realise just how essential it is to who I am.

How did your childhood on Yuin Country filter into your artistic expression and choice of medium?

As a child, I often drew landscapes and painted trees. That early connection with the natural world eventually evolved into portraiture, photography, and other mediums, all influenced by the landscape I grew up in.

I was raised just west of Jervis Bay, on Yuin Country, and it’s one of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. It had a profound impact on my creativity. Today, I find myself drawn to fluid art, especially working with resin, which can mimic water and evokes a sense of movement and flow—just like the coastal areas I grew up around.

How did you translate the story of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) into your own style of art?

I consider myself a multimedia artist. I studied communication design, which blends visual art, graphic design, and advertising. When working on Indigenous-style artworks, I often choose graphic art as a medium because it provides flexibility—especially when collaborating with designers and incorporating the work into broader communication materials.

For me, the medium is often dictated by the brief. I’m comfortable adapting and combining techniques to deliver something meaningful and unique.

What are your first steps when translating a story into a painting?

When working with a client, the process always begins with research. I try to understand their values, mission, and the sector they operate in. This involves reading their story—how the company was founded, what they hope to achieve, and what matters to them.

This helps uncover key themes and values, which guide my choices around colour, symbols, and other elements to visually communicate their message.

When I create art for myself, the process is entirely different. It’s more spontaneous—I follow my mood, throw colours on the canvas, and see where it leads.

What elements or symbolism did you include in the artwork for GBCA’s RAP, and what do they represent?

At the heart of the design is a central meeting place symbol, representing the Green Building Council of Australia itself. This central hub not only signifies unity and collaboration but also embodies the company's role as a facilitator of sustainable progress. 

From this central point, a network of journey paths radiates outward like a web, connecting to smaller meeting place symbols. These paths represent the varied projects and partnerships GBCA has created over time. Each smaller meeting place signifies an individual project.

The journey paths symbolise:

• The connection between projects and their shared values.
• The growth of the GBCA’s influence and reach.
• The collaborative spirit of working with local communities and ecosystems.

Symbolic Elements in the Design

• Animal Tracks: These reflect the presence and movement of native wildlife, symbolising the harmony between built environments and natural habitats. 
• Water Motifs: There is a body of water in the design, indicating the lifeblood of ecosystems and the importance of sustainable water use and conservation.
• Cross-Hatching in Shades of Green: This technique adds texture and depth, while the different shades symbolize diverse types of vegetation and ecosystems. The use of green reinforces the environmental focus.

How did you balance the themes of sustainability, Country, and reconciliation in this piece?

The paths cross diverse landscapes, ecosystems, and waterways, underscoring
the importance of considering the specific environmental context of each project.
The artwork conveys that sustainability is a collective journey, requiring thoughtful,
adaptive design practices that work in harmony with the environment to create a
sustainable future.