LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Analyse and interpret themes, concepts and ideas in Kelly Koumalatsos’ work and discuss how Koumalatsos has used materials and techniques to realise her intentions.
- Apply the art elements and principles to an interpretation of Koumalatsos’ work.
- Examine Koumalatsos’ work through the Interpretive Lenses and discuss the use of collaboration in her practice.
- Identify and analyse the presentation of Koumalatsos’ work in Melbourne Now.
INTRODUCTION TO KELLY KOUMALATSOS AND MELBOURNE NOW
Kelly Koumalatsos is a senior Wergaia / Wemba Wemba woman and visual artist based in regional Victoria. Drawing on her Aboriginal and Greek heritage, her practice merges traditional and contemporary art making methods and materials – including printmaking and possum skin–cloak-making – to express her political and cultural outlook. She has been an important figure in the contemporary reclamation of possum skin–cloak-making as part of her cultural tradition.
Her work in Melbourne Now, Portrait of sister in laws: Wemba Wemba Great Aunty Frieda Stewart and Wegaia Great Grandmother Eleanor Stewart, 2019, is a traditional Victorian dress constructed from tissue paper printed with possum fur. Inspired by a photograph taken of the artist’s ancestors in the early 1900s, the work speaks of the strength of the women in Koumalatsos’ family and explores cultural identity during the colonial era.
The exhibition Melbourne Now celebrates new and ambitious local art and design. The exhibition highlights the extraordinary work of more than 200 Victorian-based artists and includes a range of disciplines, from fashion and jewellery to painting, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, video, performance, printmaking and publishing.
INTRODUCTION TO KELLY KOUMALATSOS VIDEOS
In the following six videos Kelly Koumalatsos discusses her sources of inspiration and how her art practice helps her reclaim and connect with her culture. She explains her materials, techniques, and processes, and how she represents ideas and communicates meaning in her work. She also shares her favourite materials and tools and offers some tips for aspiring artists along the way.
These videos can be viewed sequentially or individually. They can be used by students for independent study or for group discussion in the classroom.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- Outline the main themes and ideas in Kelly Koumalatsos’ work. What does Koumalatsos want to communicate in her work?
- Identify and consider Koumalatsos’ use of materials and techniques. How has she used materials and techniques to represent her ideas and achieve a particular style in her artworks?
- Discuss Koumalatsos’ use of the art elements (such as form, colour and texture) and principles (like balance, contrast and scale) in Portrait of sister in laws: Wemba Wemba Great Aunty Frieda Stewart and Wegaia Great Grandmother Eleanor Stewart. How has her use of these elements and principles contributed to the distinctive aesthetic qualities in her work?
- Consider the Interpretive Lenses in an analysis of Koumalatsos’ work. How might you interpret her work through the Personal or Cultural Lens?
- What factors might be considered in conserving and preserving Koumalatsos’ artworks? For example, the materials used by the artist, the artist’s intention and/or cultural context. Does this methodology always align with historical and cultural practice and/or the artist’s intentions?
- Koumalatsos speaks of her desire “…to create some visual language that I felt was missing in society”. What do you think she means by this, and how does it connect to her work in Melbourne Now?
- What role does Koumalatsos hope the artworks might play in society? What role do you think they might play in society and culture?
- How does Koumaltasos’ work consider concepts of matriarchy or matriarchal cultural practices?
- What elements of Koumalatsos’ art practice did you find most interesting? What have you learned that you might apply to your creative practice?