Art Up Close Series: Indigenous Plant Knowledge with Zena Cumpston

Explore art up close at this intimate, after-hours event series. Get to know like-minded folks while you sample delicious drinks and delectable canapes on arrival, then enjoy a curator talk with exclusive access to our latest exhibition ngaratya (together, us group, all in it together).

Join co-curator and contributing artist Zena Cumpston for a floor talk exploring ngaratya. Zena will take you on a journey into the Indigenous plant knowledge she has utilised as inspiration for her artworks, as well as sharing insights about the exhibition and its creation and exploring themes and individual artist’s artworks in detail. This is an opportunity to gain greater insight into the exhibition and the processes of its making, and of the many ways it offers a portal into Barkandji/Barkindji Country and culture.

Zena Cumpston is a writer, storyteller, and researcher and is presenting her artistic practice publicly for the first time as part of this exhibition. Zena’s work centres around her interest in plant knowledge. Through her multi-disciplinary storytelling she illuminates the innovation of her people, shining a light on the ways Aboriginal peoples have used plants for nutrition, technologies, and medicines over many thousands of generations.

Included in your ticket:

• Complimentary drinks and canapés on arrival from 7.00 pm to 7.30pm
• Exclusive access to ngaratya (together, us group, all in it together)
• Meet the co-curator and artist Zena Cumpston for a unique experience

Image: Zena Cumpston, Barkandji people ngarta-kiira (to return to Country) #1 & #10 2023, Melbourne-Wurundjeri Country linocut collages and kopi on Fabriano paper each 76.0 x 65.0 cm Courtesy the artist Photo: Christian Capurro