West Space is honoured to present the premiere of Unconstitutional Love by Quandamooka artist Kyra Mancktelow (Qld).
Unconstitutional Love centres around a wedding dress that honours the artist’s Ancestors. With this work, Kyra continues to explore the history of garments in Australia as a means by which to address the ongoing impact of colonisation in this nation.
Kyra says, “Until the 1960s, Indigenous Australians could only marry with government permission. These garments and prints investigate long-lasting legacies of colonialism, asking questions such as how we remember and acknowledge these histories. My hope is to draw upon the strength of resistance by adapting, retaining cultural ways and identity.”
Presented in partnership with Agency Projects.
Kyra Mancktelow, 'Jundal' (detail), 2022, unique monoprint on 350gsm Hahnemüle paper, 120 x 80 cm. Courtesy the artist and N.Smith Gallery, Sydney.