Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna artist Kath Moore presents a collection of artworks exploring First Nations food practices, traditional knowledge and the enduring relationship between people and Country. Drawing on the plants, waterways and food traditions of the Coorong, the body of work shares knowledge of native produce, sustainable fishing, harvesting and gathering, alongside personal memories passed down through Kath’s family.

The artworks have been reproduced as a unique rug design as well as vinyl window decals that have been applied throughout the level, bringing Kath’s stories of Country and culture into the building’s interior spaces. Commissioned by Multiplex on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and facilitated by Guildhouse, the project creates an opportunity for First Nations cultural knowledge and contemporary artistic practice to be experienced by the people who move through the space.

Together, Native Produce: Bush Tucker, Water Food Practices and Harvesting and Gathering explore the knowledge, skills and traditions that connect food, family and Country. Each artwork focuses on a different aspect of traditional food practices, drawing on native plants, waterways, woven objects and the stories Kath remembers from her Nan.

Native Produce: Bush Tucker celebrates native plants and their traditional uses as sources of food, flavour and nourishment. Purrumbawi (Saltbush), found around the Coorong, has salty leaves that can be used as a substitute for salt. Lakari (Banksia) flowers can be picked and boiled down to make a sweet drink. Kaila (Golden Wattle) and Wurruldi (Wattleseed) highlight the importance of seeds as a food source. Wattleseeds were ground into flour and made into small cakes baked in hot coals, a practice that holds a personal connection for Kath through memories of her Nan’s love of Johnny Cakes.

Water Food Practices explores traditional fishing and gathering methods that reflect a deep understanding of waterways and their ecosystems. Ku (Rock Fish Traps) represent structures built to catch and manage fish sustainably. Talaipar (Woven Fish Trap), made from reeds and shaped into a funnel, demonstrates the skill involved in weaving tools that allow fish and eels to enter while making it difficult for them to escape. Kuti (Cockles) brings a family memory into the work, recalling Kath’s Nan describing how she would shuffle her feet through the sand to bring cockles to the surface for gathering.

Harvesting and Gathering focuses on the relationship between traditional weaving and the collection of native foods. Tawari (Woven Basket) represents baskets made from reeds and used to gather foods such as berries and seeds. Munthries (Muntries), a sweet native fruit found on bushes around the Coorong, were a favourite food of Kath’s Nan. Wurruldi (Wattleseed) returns to the story of traditional food preparation, with seeds ground into flour and baked into cakes over hot coals. These elements connect practical skills and seasonal food knowledge with memories of family and the passing on of cultural traditions.

Across the collection, Kath brings together traditional knowledge and personal storytelling to celebrate the ways Aboriginal people have gathered, prepared and shared food for generations. The works recognise Country as a source of nourishment and knowledge, while honouring the Elders and family members who continue to pass these stories on.

Artist Biography

Kath Moore is a proud Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna contemporary artist living on Kaurna Yarta. Working across acrylic on canvas and digital design, Kath was taught to paint by her Aunty Pam when she was young. Her work is inspired by her Nan’s Country on the Coorong and shares stories of her Nan’s life growing up on the mission, the histories of Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people, and her own experiences of family and raising two children in Adelaide.

Kath holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Aboriginal Health and Community Development from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Diploma in Art in Photomedia from the University of New South Wales, and a Graduate Certificate in Art History from the University of Adelaide. She has completed numerous commissions and collaborations across Adelaide and exhibited throughout South Australia. In 2021, she received the Highly Commended Artist Award at the Our Mob exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Theatre.