Golden Lion glory: Archie Moore’s monumental achievement at Venice Biennale

The Indigenous artist has made art history winning the coveted top prize for his kith and kin installation, a sprawling genealogy spanning 65,000 years.

Archie Moore poses with his instillation.

Kamilaroi/Bigambul artist Archie Moore has become the first Australian artist to win the prestigious Golden Lion for Best National Participation at La Biennale de Venezia for his work, kith and kin.

Kith and kin is a massive genealogical chart covering 65,000 years that spans the whole space of the Australia Pavilion.

A reflective pool sits in the centre of the space, with a platform above stacked with 500 documents relating to coronial inquest into the deaths of Indigenous Australians in police custody.

The walls and the roof of the space contain the genealogical chart, containing 65,000 years of names representing connectedness, ancestry and humanity, themes Moore touched on when speaking about receiving the award.

“As the water flows through the canals of Venice to the lagoon, then to the Adriatic Sea, it then travels to the oceans and to the rest of the world, enveloping the continent of Australia, connecting us all here on Earth,” he said.

“Aboriginal kinship systems include all living things from the environment in a larger network of relatedness, the land itself can be a mentor or a parent to a child. We are all one and share a responsibility of care to all living things now and into the future.

“I am very grateful for this accolade; it makes me feel honoured to be rewarded for the hard work one does.

“I am grateful to everyone who has always been part of my journey, from my kith to my kin, to my Creative Australia team and everyone else back home and those of the Venice lagoon.”

The Kith and Kin installation.

The exhibition was curated by Ellie Buttrose and commissioned by Creative Australia with Ms Buttrose stating it was “an honour” to work with Moore and his art.

“Archie Moore profoundly affects those who listen,” she said.

“Kith and kin enfolds all of us into Archie’s family. To be kin is to carry responsibilities; duties for each other and all living things throughout time.

“This commendation is a celebration of Archie’s generosity, it is an honour to witness his art.”

When handing out the award, the jury of the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Bienanale di Venezia, said they were impressed with the scope of Moore’s work.

“In this quiet, impactful pavilion, Archie Moore worked for months to hand-draw in chalk a monumental First Nation family tree,” they said.

“Thus 65,000 years of history, both recorded and lost, are inscribed on the dark walls and ceiling, inviting viewers to fill in the blanks and grasp the inherent fragility of this mournful archive.

“The official documents drawn up by the State float in a moat of water. The result of Moore’s intensive research, these documents reflect the high rates of incarceration of First Nations people.

Moore with curator Ellie Buttrose.

“This installation stands out for its strong aesthetic, its lyricism and its invocation of a shared loss of an occluded past. With his inventory of thousands of names, Moore also offers a glimmer of the possibility of recovery.”

Moore was commissioned to present in the Australia Pavilion by Creative Australia who were advised by a panel of both Australian and international visual arts professionals.

Creative Australia is the Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.

Australian Government minister for the Arts Tony Burke said it was exciting to see an Australian take home the Golden Lion.

“When I announced the Government’s support for the new pavilion for the Venice Biennale back in 2013, we could only hope that one day one of our artists would receive this level of recognition,” he said.

“Congratulations to Archie on this well deserved recognition.”