Contemporary Indigenous designs showcased in Ngalya exhibition

Koskela, one of Australia’s leading furniture, design and lifestyle brands, will present Ngalya, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Koskela’s social impact projects working with Australia’s First Nation Peoples.

Koskela will present an exhibition including a new collection of lighting designs in collaboration with six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres from around the country. The Ngalya Collection will be presented at Koskela, Roseberry, from 28 August to 18 September, before travelling to the South Australian School of Art Gallery in Adelaide as part of TARNANTHI 2019, the Art Gallery of South Australia’s annual Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art this October.

Co-Founder of Koskela, Sasha Titchkosky said: “Koskela believes that great design can be used to effect social change, and has a firm belief that Australia’s unique Indigenous culture is one that needs to be celebrated and acknowledged. We are proud of the many collaborations we have worked on in the past 10 years and excited to present our anniversary Collection – Ngalya – highlighting the incredible innovation and contemporary transformations taking place in Indigenous fibre arts and cultures across Australia.”

Ngalya is a Dharug word meaning ‘both’ and the collection sees Koskela collaborate with six art centres including Bula’Bula Arts, Durrmu Arts, Milingimbi Art and Culture, Moa Arts, Ngarrindjeri Weavers, and Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Each centre or collective has drawn on culturally important objects and design features in the development of beautiful new installations and lighting products.

Designed for both commercial and residential environments, the pieces in the exhibition can be purchased by the general public, and many of the larger pieces will be suited to workplaces, architects and corporates. Ngalya aims to provide Indigenous weavers with an additional income for their work while maintaining their traditional practices and to introduce new and compelling ‘art products’ into contemporary interiors.

This year marks a decade since Koskela first began working with, and learning from, the weavers of Elcho Island Arts on Yuta Badayala (In a New Light). Ngalya celebrates and expands this spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange through the development of exquisite new woven forms. Ngalya seeks to physically and conceptually illuminate these profound objects, allowing them to be seen anew.

All the products in Ngalya are woven ‘on Country’, on the site of each artist’s ancestral land and place of residence, and are hand woven using locally harvested plant fibres and natural, hand-made dyes. The collection, preparation and weaving of the fibres are all labour intensive processes: harvesting the plants, driving the boat, stripping the leaves, digging up and peeling the roots for dye, soaking the leaves, boiling the pot, drying the fibres all happens before the weaving commences, and are an integral part of production and maintains cultural practices.

Koskela is deeply committed to using their design and production skills to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and makers. They facilitate collaborations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned art centres and their own design team, to create new contemporary design products and concepts in corporate and commercial environments. These projects generate an alternative income source, helping artists to continue to live a life they have chosen to lead and maintain their traditional practices.

Koskela has worked with leading Australian and international corporations, as well as architects and design firms. With clients ranging from NAB and Westpac, to NOMA restaurant in Copenhagen and Qantas’ headquarters in Sydney. Koskela is a registered member of the Indigenous Art Code, which means they are committed to preserving and promoting ethical trade in Indigenous art and Supply Nation, whose mission is to facilitate, encourage and promote business between corporate Australia and Government agencies and Indigenous owned businesses.

koskela.com.au