‘Education is for everyone’: The award-winning artist who struggles with impostor syndrome
Dr Aly de Groot, who has won many awards for her artwork over the past 20 years, thought she was not smart enough for university and even now, has to chase away crushing self-criticism.
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Looking at the beautiful pink and blue woven jellyfish made from ocean waste surrounding Dr Aly de Groot, it is difficult to imagine the contemporary fibre artist feeling out of her depth.
And yet, Aly revealed she often struggled with impostor syndrome and almost ran out in shame on her first day at university.
For more than 20 years, Aly has specialised in contemporary basket-making processes.
Spurred on by her empathy for marine life and ecosystems, her passion for the practice and seeing the same joy in others, the Darwin resident’s work has been exhibited in galleries, museums and public spaces nationally and internationally.
Her unique artworks have also been displayed in corners of Darwin from woven bronze sculptures to colourful jellyfish made from ocean waste for this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS.
Despite her success, the award-winning contemporary fibre artist said it was a field often underestimated.
With basket-making being traditionally women’s work and a creative practice, Aly added: “It is often undervalued and not considered a real job or a real of whatever success is.
“But I like to think that I’ve proved that wrong.
“The art industry really does contribute in so many different ways and I don’t think that gets valued enough.”
First day at university: ‘I didn’t even know how to turn on a computer’
Originally from WA, Aly first learnt about First Nations basketry when she travelled to the NT after high school in the mid-90s.
After realising how much she enjoyed it, Aly started experimenting with different materials including waste.
One day when 19-year-old Aly was walking on Bundilla Beach in Darwin, she spotted a dwarf sperm whale in distress and went out to try and help it while singing to try and soothe it.
Apart from making the front page of NT News at the time, it sparked a desire to raise awareness for marine ecosystems and influenced the trajectory of her work.
In the early 2000s, despite being a single mum to a two-year-old and having a lot of self-doubt, Aly then decided to carry out a course at Charles Darwin University.
“I never thought I was smart enough to go to university,” Aly said.
“Which is pretty funny because when I started, I didn’t even know how to turn on a computer.
“I was just sitting there feeling like a big impostor going ‘What am I doing here? ‘How dare I think that I could be here.’
“And then someone without a fuss just turned the computer on for me.
“I feel like that opened up this whole world for me because I loved it and it turns out maybe I do have a brain because I ended up doing my Masters at CDU and then I completed a PHD in 2018.”
Since then Aly has completed a Graduate Certificate of Creative Therapies, collaborated with Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts to create a fashion collection which won a community collaboration award and this year has an art residency in Berlin at the Museum of European Culture.
In 2023, she was also awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to Europe and the UK to learn more about endangered basketry practices.
Dealing with impostor syndrome and advice
Despite her success, impostor syndrome is something Aly has struggled with over the years.
When asked how she managed those thoughts, she said: “It’s always there.
“I try and joke with it. And I remind myself, I’ve got a 10-year-old daughter, and there’s no way I would interrogate her the way I interrogate myself.
“I like to think I look at my daughter and how precious she is … and if I spoke to her the way I spoke to myself it would just destroy her.
“So I like to think there’s a little person inside me and she doesn’t need to be destroyed. You need to be gentle and kind.”
Now a part-time lecturer at CDU and about to start teaching a fibre unit at the university, Aly said she sees herself in a lot of her students.
“When I went to university, I really felt out of my depth but because it was something I was really passionate about and I really loved making art, I took a risk,” she said.
“Looking back 20 years later, I never thought I would have this amazing career and the opportunities I get being a creative.
“I think it’s having that confidence and doing something that you love.
“Remember to back yourself up, not listen to that voice and education really does give you wings and it is for anyone. Anyone who wants to pursue is good enough and smart enough and deserves it.”
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