A conversation with artists, curators and collaborators Nici Cumpston, Zena Cumpston and David Doyle about their work with Barkindji Country and knowledge systems.
A conversation with artists, curators and collaborators Nici Cumpston, Zena Cumpston and David Doyle about their work with Barkindji Country and knowledge systems.
Image: Nici Cumpston, Great-grandmother Barka, 2020, Adelaide, Kaurna Country, pigment inkjet print, hand coloured with Stabilo crayons and pencils, 80.0 x 80.0cm unframed, 100.0 x 100.0cm framed. Courtesy the artist and Michael Reid Gallery.
People
Nici Cumpston
Nici Cumpston is a proud Barkandji artist, curator, writer and educator, whose family are also of Afghan, Irish and English descent. She commenced at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2008 and is currently the Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Since 2014 she has also been the Artistic Director of Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.
Having studied fine arts, specialising in Photography at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, she has worked as a photographic lecturer at Tauondi Aboriginal Community College, Port Adelaide, as well as at the University of South Australia.
She has been exhibiting her works of art since 1998 and in that time has been invited to participate in many prestigious awards, group and solo exhibitions. She exhibits regularly and her work is held in major institutions and private collections nationally and internationally.
Zena Cumpston
Zena Cumpston is a Barkandji woman with family connection to Broken Hill and Menindee in western New South Wales. Zena is a writer and also sometimes works as a curator, consultant, educator and researcher. Most recently she curated the Emu Sky exhibition at the University of Melbourne, bringing together more than 30 Aboriginal community members to share their stories, research, knowledge and artworks in an exploration of Indigenous knowledge. Zena’s book Plants; past, present and future will be released in September 2022.
David Doyle
David Doyle is a Barkindji/Malyangapa man based in Broken Hill, NSW. His family is from the Menindee region of the Baaka, or Darling River. Following the traditions of his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Doyle is an emerging carver and artist. He makes carved emu eggs, mussel shell jewelry, and wooden objects including bowls and sculptures.
Doyle also is a knowledge holder of Barkindji bush medicines and edible plants. He produces medicinal lotions, tinctures and soaps using these same medicines. Doyle explains: ‘I use materials from the Baaka in most of my sculptures because I’m making something that’s part of myself, part of my culture and my history.’
