SA artist Kaylene Whiskey’s playful art combines pop culture and First Nations culture

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Canberra is a long way from the red dirt of remote South Australia, where acclaimed contemporary artist Kaylene Whiskey lives and works. A collection of her art is now on display in the capital at the National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition playfully blends pop culture and First Nations culture to celebrate strong women.

Transcript

00:00This is the colourful world of Kayleen Whiskey, where culture, country, comics and celebrity

00:18collide on canvas.

00:20Kayleen Whiskey, there's no one else like her in the universe.

00:25She works in the tiny remote South Australian Aboriginal community of Indulkana.

00:31While she paints, she listens to her heroes.

00:34Dolly Parton is a top muse.

00:37So too were Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg and Wonder Woman.

00:42Who are presented as powerful equals among other strong women from her community of Indulkana,

00:48including Kayleen herself.

00:50More than 80 of her works have gone on display at the National Portrait Gallery.

00:55Her desert pop art style, embracing humour and joy.

00:59There's something about how she combines her Angunu culture and popular culture together

01:05in this kind of unique explosion which is represented on the canvas.

01:11One of the key pieces is a new commission, marking 25 years since Cathy Freeman won gold at the

01:17Sydney Olympics.

01:18I saw the country running with an Olympic torch on the TV and I put the country on the canvas.

01:26Kayleen's extraordinary work shows us Cathy in a new light.

01:31Not weighed down by the expectations of a nation, but powered by the energy, love and spirit of

01:37her sisters in Indulkana and beyond.

01:39Whiskey's star continues to rise on the Australian art scene.

01:44A three-time Archibald finalist and winner of the Sulman Prize in 2018,

01:49this is the first major survey of her work.

01:52Her paintings have been projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House,

01:56but it's her connection to country and love of the sisterhood

02:00that she's most excited to celebrate.

02:03The power woman.

02:07Minma Gunpo.

02:09Super Kayleen Whiskey will be on display until March next year.

02:16We can't wait to see what's next for Kayleen Whiskey.

02:18It's just the beginning.

02:19We can't wait to see what's next for Kayleen.

02:28We can't wait to see what's next for Kayleen.

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