Kaurna and Narungga sisters Kimberly and Cecilia Taylor developed a body of woven artworks exploring connection to Country, cultural knowledge and the continuation of traditional practices through generations.

The body of work sits within a series of artwork commissions bringing First Nations artists and their stories into the built environment, sharing cultural knowledge and perspectives with the people who experience the space. 

The three works explore complementary themes, from the importance of caring for Country and its waterways to ancestral food practices and the role of women in gathering and sharing knowledge. Through contemporary weaving, the artists celebrate culture, identity and community.

Guildhouse delivered the commission, supporting the artists to share their cultural knowledge and contemporary weaving practice in a public setting while contributing their stories and perspectives to the built environment.

Artwork Story:

Kimberly and Cecilia Taylor’s body of work explores the ongoing relationship between Country, cultural knowledge and community. Across three woven artworks, the artists draw on traditional weaving practices and natural materials to create contemporary works that carry stories, memories and knowledge passed down through generations.

Ngangkita Yarta, meaning Mother Earth, reflects the many things Country provides, including water, food, nature and the land on which we live. The work acknowledges the strong relationship between people and Country, as well as the responsibility to care for the land, animals and waterways.

Lessons on Country explores men’s food practices, including hunting, tracking, trapping and agriculture. Deep colours and varied textures reference animal fur, skin and cultural symbols, while totem animals, farming practices and Lore inform the work.

Shaping Our Future focuses on ancestral food practices and the important role women play in gathering and sharing food. The work reflects the passing of weaving techniques, stories and cultural knowledge between generations, recognising how these practices continue to shape contemporary cultural expression.

Together, the works demonstrate the artists’ use of weaving as a form of storytelling and cultural expression. Raffia, hemp twine, leather and quandong seeds connect the artworks to natural materials and traditional making practices. The body of work honours knowledge passed down by those who came before while creating space for contemporary expressions of culture, identity and connection to Country.

Artist Biography:

Kimberly and Cecilia Taylor are Kaurna and Narungga sisters who were born and raised on Kaurna Yerta. In 2023, they founded Kaurna and Creative, a family-owned creative practice centred on culture, connection, community and storytelling.

Their artistic journey began through a personal process of cultural reconnection and relearning traditional skills passed down through generations. This has developed into a shared weaving practice that honours the knowledge and skills of those who came before them while creating opportunities to explore and express their culture through contemporary art.

Working with traditional weaving techniques and natural materials, Kimberly and Cecilia create contemporary artworks that carry stories, memories, knowledge and cultural meaning. Their practice provides a space for cultural knowledge to be continued, shared and expressed through a contemporary artistic language.