A groundbreaking artwork that made history at the 2024 Venice Biennale has arrived in Australia for the first time, offering audiences a powerful exploration of Indigenous Australian history and human interconnectedness. Bigambul/Kamilaroi artist Archie Moore's "kith and kin," curated by Ellie Buttrose, became the first Australian work ever to win the prestigious Golden Lion award at Venice and is now on display at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane.
The exhibition addresses Australia's complex colonial history within the broader context of 65,000 years of Indigenous culture. The multimodal artwork confronts the violent milestones that have marked this land, particularly the suffering of Indigenous Australians at the hands of colonizers since European invasion 237 years ago. However, Moore emphasizes that these stories, which continue to echo from generation to generation, must be understood within the vast timeline of First Nations peoples' strength and cultural heritage.
Curator Ellie Buttrose, who has known Moore for more than 15 years, understood the monumental task required to bring this ambitious work to life. "With something of this scale, it's about bringing people together that have the skills that can enable Archie's vision to come to life," Buttrose explained. "His artworks create a mood in the space, which means that every element of the design must contribute to the feeling that he evokes."
The installation process involved collaboration with design consultant Kevin O'Brien, a Kaurareg-Meriam man, to carefully plan every element of the artwork. Changes in distance, height, and lighting emphasize different parts of the piece and alter its meaning, requiring extensive planning to achieve the right effect. Buttrose noted that the final result closely matches Moore's original vision, though the process required working out numerous scenarios.
For Moore, both the Venetian and Australian installations represented unprecedented challenges in scale and collaboration. "It's two months hard labor, on a much larger scale than we ever worked on before, and with a much larger team," he said. "That was all new to me." The artist relied on local experts in both locations to make the mammoth installation possible.
Upon entering the "kith and kin" exhibition space, visitors must pause to let their eyes adjust to the darkness. As minutes pass, a massive artwork gradually reveals itself: coronial reports suspended over a memorial pool, backed by thousands of names chalked on blackboard walls. This powerful installation represents Moore's exploration of kinship, connection, and time, tracing pathways to common ancestors of all humans alongside animals, plants, waterways, and landforms.
The artwork deliberately contrasts 65,000 years of Indigenous ancestry with atrocities still occurring today. Following Moore's established artistic practice, the piece positions personal experience within the broader political landscape, challenging viewers to consider their kinship responsibilities to one another and the wider world. "The whole piece is about connections," Moore explained. "It's a place for reflection and contemplation, as in a shrine or memorial. I noticed people slow down in there to walk around."
Both the Brisbane and Venice installations feature strategic architectural elements that reinforce the theme of universal connection. The Queensland Art Gallery exhibition includes a window that opens to the sky, while the Venice pavilion featured a view of a canal. "The water in the canal is a way to connect us all, just like the sky does," Moore said. "That water flows to the Venetian Lagoon, to the Adriatic Sea, and around the world to the Brisbane River, where QAGOMA stands."
Moore's message emphasizes shared humanity and responsibility. "We have common ancestors," he stated. "We're all part of a much larger family and we have a responsibility to treat each other with kindness and respect. Everyone has a family, so everyone can relate to the tree and genealogy."
This powerful work is not Moore's first examination of violence against Indigenous peoples, nor is it likely to be his last. The artist continues to address ongoing injustices, particularly deaths in custody. "This death in custody problem is still happening," he said, "even though there are 339 recommendations to solve the problem. There's an unwillingness to make it happen."
The memorial pool at the artwork's center literally reflects its meaning to visitors, creating multiple layers of interpretation. "At certain angles, you'll see the tree being reflected in the water," Moore explained. "It's in close proximity with death in custody reports, bringing those two elements together to talk about how the people in the reports are human beings. They have families. They're not just a statistic."
Moore's choice of materials carries deep significance, particularly his use of chalk and blackboard. "When I have an idea for a work, I'll have a think about what media best suits that idea. I've used perfumes, paper, sculptures, paint," he said. "This work is chalk and blackboard, to reference the school curriculum that I studied under – there was no Indigenous history or Indigenous references in any of the subjects. It is a history painting."
The fragility of chalk serves as a metaphor for the erasure of Indigenous histories. "The chalk is very fragile, could be smudged easily, so most people are really careful in there," Moore noted. "But if you wanted to try and erase it, I think there'd always be a trace left behind. This erasure of histories; the erasure itself becomes a part of history."
Both Moore and Buttrose hope the global recognition from winning the Golden Lion will encourage broader engagement with the work's message. Buttrose believes the award demonstrates what Australian artists can achieve when given appropriate resources. "It shows you what can happen when Australian artists are given significant resources at the right time in their career," she said. "We hope that the praise for 'kith and kin' leads to more challenging projects at scale, not just by Archie but other Australian artists."
The international resonance of the work has validated the importance of supporting Australian artistic endeavors. "The resonance that it's had with an international audience, the fact that people considered it one of the most important artworks of its time, means that, yes, we should continue to support and be very proud of what artists here in Australia are able to create and deliver," Buttrose added.
For Moore, receiving the prestigious Golden Lion award has been an extraordinary honor that validates years of dedicated work. "It was great to be recognized and acknowledged for the work, which we thought was really good work," he said. "We believed in it."
Archie Moore's "kith and kin" will remain on display at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) through October 2026, offering Australian audiences an extended opportunity to experience this internationally acclaimed work that challenges viewers to confront difficult truths while celebrating the enduring strength of Indigenous culture and the interconnectedness of all humanity.
