Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley

Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley is the highly anticipated culmination of the Art Gallery of WA’s six-year Kimberley visual arts project, supported by Rio Tinto. This landmark exhibition showcasing the vibrant and contemporary creative talent of Kimberley artists opens with a cultural celebration on 9 February 2019.

New works from six Kimberley art centres and three independent artists will be presented alongside a selection of legacy works from art centre collections. Together with works from AGWA’s collection, the exhibition offers a rare experience of the land, artists and art of the Kimberley.

Artists and art centres represented in the Desert River Sea exhibition include: Darrell & Garry Sibosado (Lombadina); Daniel Walbidi (Bidyadanga); Kira Kiro Art Centre (Kalumburu) and artist collectives from Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency (Fitzroy Crossing); Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre (Mowanjum); Waringarri Aboriginal Arts (Kununurra); Warlayirti Artists (Balgo); and Warmun Art Centre (Warmun).

The exhibition has been shaped by the people and the places of the Kimberley. Artists and art centres have embraced the opportunity to share their stories of country and lived experience through innovative contemporary art practice.

The exhibition is co-curated by Carly Lane, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and Emilia Galatis, Community Liaison & Project Coordinator. Part of Perth Festival 2019.

Image credits – Garry Sibosado Aalingoon (Rainbow Serpent) 2018 (detail). Photo: Michael Jalaru Torres at Kooljaman Beach, 2018. Sonia Kurarra at Danggu Geikie Gorge with artwork Noonkanbah Highway 2018 (detail). Daniel Walbidi Wirnpa 2016–2019 (detail). Sand installation and digital video, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist and Short Street Gallery.