Based in Cape York, at the far north-western tip of Australia, Naomi Hobson confronts negative stereotypes of Indigenous people while honouring the unique stories and lives of regional Aboriginal communities. Collaborating with men from her Lockhart River and Coen communities, ‘A Warrior without a Weapon’ series particularly addresses stereotypes of Australian Indigenous men by affirming their capacity for caring and beauty. 

Christian missionaries introduced restricted gender roles to many Indigenous communities, resulting in a decline of the cultural adornment practised by Kaantju and Umpila men. By photographing her male subjects decorated with flowers, Hobson reinvigorates this aspect of her culture and highlights the nurturing compassion of Aboriginal men.