Kimberley Artists Take Centre Stage at PICA in Global Showcase
Art curator Zali Morgan describes it as a "pinch me" moment, witnessing the work of Kimberley artists displayed on the walls of Australia's embassy in Washington DC. This international audience, admiring the pieces with hushed reverence, experienced a collection that first came to life across six Aboriginal community art centres in the Kimberley. Now, this exhibition, titled All That Country Holds, is set to captivate Perth audiences at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA).
From Art Centres to Global Galleries
Morgan, a Noongar artist and curator, reflects on the stark contrast between the creation and exhibition of these artworks. In the art centres, pieces are intimate extensions of the artists' lives, often marked by everyday moments like spilled tea or dogs running over canvases. Yet, once placed in a gallery, they transform into revered art on walls. This journey underscores the profound connection between the art, its creators, and their environments.
The exhibition, which debuted internationally in Washington last October, aims to bring the colour, diversity, and vibrancy of the Kimberley to Perth. It features works from acclaimed artists such as John Prince Siddon, Mervyn Street, and Pauline Sunfly, showcasing the region's rich artistic talent. All That Country Holds will be presented alongside Revealed, an annual showcase for new and emerging Western Australian Aboriginal artists.
Curating Stories of Land and Sovereignty
Morgan curated the exhibition with guidance from Kimberley women Lynley Nargoodah and Dora Griffiths, visiting six art centres to engage with artists and select pieces. Through conversations, she focused on what artists wanted to share with an international audience, resulting in a collection that narrates themes of working on the land, memory, survival, and sovereignty.
To ensure these stories resonate, the exhibition will open on April 18 with artist yarns, gallery floor talks, and artist-led workshops. Morgan emphasises the importance of amplifying artists' voices and fostering dialogue among them, highlighting the diversity within Aboriginal cultures. "In WA, there are so many different mob and language groups and cultures," she says. "I hope this exhibition continues to break down that idea that there is only one Aboriginal culture. We are all different."
Exploring the Collective Idea of Country
A common thread in the exhibition is the collective idea of Country, as seen in works like those of Jan Gunjaka Griffiths. Her pieces depict her first flight over the Kimberley, blending a bird's-eye view with the iconic Boab tree, and include ceramic Boab nuts made in collaboration with her grandchildren. Morgan notes that this reflects how Country is inseparable from family.
Similarly, artist Leah Umbagai's work illustrates how creation beings in her law and culture are integral parts of Country. Morgan hopes audiences leave with a renewed appreciation for Country, reminding them that even in urban settings like Perth's Whadjuk country, they are always on Country. "You don't have to be out in the bush or at the beach to be on Country," she says. "I hope audiences can see the personal side of that as well."
All That Country Holds will be at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art from April 18 to June 14, offering a unique glimpse into the Kimberley's artistic and cultural landscape.
