Mecca announces the Australian artist to design its 2023 holiday beauty packaging
“Who doesn’t love a painting where Dolly Parton, Cher, and Sandy from Grease congregate in the outback, depicted among lizards and honey ants?”
Since 2016, Mecca has collaborated with a range of artists from Australia and abroad to decorate its stores and packaging for the festive season. This year, Kaylene Whiskey will do the honours, marking her as the ninth artist involved in the annual program. With Mecca’s holiday message “Everyone Together, Looking So Good” inspiring the collection, the new artwork will be inspired by Whiskey’s signature style, which plays on a unique blend of pop culture references from all over the world, placed in the familiar setting of Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the remote north-west of South Australia, where Whiskey resides.
Speaking exclusively to The Australian, Kate Blythe, Mecca’s chief marketing officer is delighted to announce what is “our most highly anticipated campaign of the year.
“Each year, our holiday artists bring something so unique to the collaboration and this year is certainly no exception. Kaylene’s work and approach to life emanates so much joy and happiness and really encapsulates what holiday at Mecca is all about.”
Beyond just its brightly coloured style, Whiskey’s work is a contemporary examination of years of traditional culture re-contextualised into a younger generation who have grown up surrounded by new and modern influences from abroad. Think pop music, Coca Cola and even comic books mixed in with traditional Anangu activities like hunting, collecting food, and agriculture. Whiskey was the winner of the prestigious Sir John Sulman Prize in 2018, and the irreverence and joy in her work has only gotten stronger since.
“Kaylene’s work immediately stood out to us from the short-listed artists from the NGV.” Blythe says, “the characters, the joy, the storytelling, and the celebratory energy of her work were the perfect fit.”
“Creatively, we were inspired by Kaylene’s own joyful persona and the work itself that emanates this sense of optimism, positivity, and fun. We were particularly drawn to Kaylene’s representation of women and elements within her world, which are depicted through pop culture references that celebrate strong kungkas (women) and the sisterhood within her community.”
Since its inception, the holiday program has also worked in conjunction with the National Gallery of Victoria, as the works from the selected artist also are acquired by the NGV, which then go on display in the Ian Potter Centre in Melbourne in order to further showcase their work. “This annual program means we not only get to support inspiring women like Kaylene,” Blythe says, “but it also allows us to provide an important platform to amplify their work and careers on a global scale.”
Echoing Blythe’s excitement was Sophie Gerhard, Curator, Australian and First Nations Art, at the NGV, who will be acquiring ten works on paper by Whiskey.
“Whiskey is one of Australia’s most exciting and dynamic contemporary artists, and supporting her practice through this commission is a significant opportunity for both the artist and the gallery.
Reflecting on the history of this annual program, Whiskey’s selection as the artist for 2023 Gerhard signals out as a particular highlight. “Whiskey’s unique artistic vision has brought such a distinct character and joyfulness to the project, making this year’s collaboration a truly exciting and meaningful one.”
“Who doesn’t love a painting where Dolly Parton, Cher, and Sandy from Grease congregate in the outback, depicted among lizards and honey ants?” Gerhard says, “I think that’s what I love most about Whiskey’s practice – that even though her works contain underlying narratives of the complex and evolving relationship between Australia’s First Peoples and non-Indigenous society, they also tell us that in this moment, it’s ok to just have fun!”
The benefits for collaborations like these are myriad. Working beneficially for both artist and gallery for promotion of works, and a unique chance to reimagine great art in a new and exciting lens. But for Gerhard, a personal comment on the reception extends bilaterally to Mecca customers and new-found art lovers.
“The wonderful thing about the Mecca and NGV Holiday collaboration is that it draws a diverse audience to the gallery. Often, visitors who wouldn’t normally consider themselves ‘art people’ visit the gallery to view the works they’ve seen integrated across Mecca’s Holiday campaign.”
Mecca Holiday 2023 launches in Australia and New Zealand stores and online at mecca.com on October 31. Kaylene Whiskey’s artwork will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from October 14.