Ngarrindjeri Women Share Their Story at Kumarangk Exhibition
One of South Australia’s most hotly debated cultural stories is being retold. This time, by the women who lived it.
Kumarangk: Exhibition opens at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental on February 21, bringing together more than 20 works honouring Ngarrindjeri women who resisted the construction of the bridge between Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island in the 1990s.
For years, these women faced intense public scrutiny and criticism for speaking up about culture and Country. Decades on, this exhibition marks the first step in telling the story from their perspective, with a documentary film, theatre work and community archive to follow.
Art Across Generations and Mediums
Curated by Dominic Guerrera, a Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna artist, alongside associate curators Danni Zuvela and Jayda Wilson, the exhibition features thirteen Ngarrindjeri women artists working across generations and disciplines.
Artists include Sandra Saunders, Aunty Betty Sumner, Sonya Rankine, Carly Tarkari Dodd and Tiarnie Edwards, along with the Mardawi Collective, made up of Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, Temeika Campbell, Zemiah Campbell, Debra Rankine, Elizabeth Rankine, Bessie Rigney, Stephanie Russell and Margi Sumner.
The works span weaving, soft sculpture, painting, ceramics, installation and text-based pieces, many of them striking in scale. They include Saunders’ original works from the time of the resistance, known as The Hindmarsh Island Collection, alongside a newly commissioned piece reflecting on the past.
Why This Exhibition Matters to the People Behind It
“This exhibition is about the ongoing love and fight in Ngarrindjeri women’s circles,” Sandra said.
“It finally gives me and my sisters, as artists and activists, a chance to tell our story our way.
“Culture is important and heritage places of significance to Aboriginal people are important to every Australian.
“We celebrate the strong women who stood up and fought to protect heritage, even through the firestorm that surrounded them.”
For Guerrera, the exhibition holds deep personal meaning.
“Kumarangk: Exhibition is an intergenerational love letter for Ngarrindjeri women, exploring the survival of culture and the resistance to the destructive forces of the colony,” Dominic said.
“From Tiarnie Edwards, who comes from a strong protest background and is the youngest person exhibiting, to Aunty Betty Sumner, who was inspired to complete unfinished weaving for this project, the works in this exhibition are not only huge in size, but in heart and history.
“Text by Aunty Katrina Powers and Aunty Eunice Aston will also feature in the front of house to set the tone and intention of the exhibition while paying respects to mother earth and our Blak Matriarchy.”
Each Saturday during the exhibition period, Adelaide Contemporary Experimental will host artist and curator talks, weaving workshops and a film screening.
“We at ACE are honoured to be the first home of Kumarangk: Exhibition as it makes its debut,” ACE artistic director Danni Zuvela said.
“It’s incredibly exciting to give patrons the chance to revisit this historical moment in such depth and with so many opportunities for reflection.
“It has been an amazing experience seeing these works come to life and I can’t wait for the public to be part of it.”
KUMARANGK: EXHIBITION
WHEN: Opens Saturday, February 21 2pm-4pm. Run until April 4
WHERE: Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE)
North Tce, Adelaide
To RSVP to the opening and register for upcoming talks and workshops, keep an eye on
www.countryarts.org.au/events/kumarangk-exhibition.
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