Exhibits,

Arkie Barton KALKADOON

Kalkadoon, An artistic exploration of land, people and country and returning home.

Kalkadoon, Arkie’s second collection of work explores themes of both displacement and reconnection with her country, culture and family. Through sculpture and mixed media canvas work, Arkie reflects on stepping foot on the land her Grandpa’s mob has resided on for thousands of years for the first time. Exploring the complexities of growing up as a Blak girl in the city with only stories of home, these pieces represent a puzzle piece falling into place.

Arkie Barton is an emerging artist, fashion and textile designer, currently living in Naarm/Melbourne. Arkie is a proud Kalkadungu woman, whose art practice draws from her Indigenous heritage to create beautiful contemporary pieces across multiple disciplines. Painting from age 5, she has held many exhibitions and collaborations over the years, building up to her current diversification of creative practice. Arkie created her self named clothing label Arkie the Label in 2015 as a platform for mainstream Australia to engage with contemporary Aboriginal culture through a creative form everyone must interact with, fashion.

Arkie the Label has enabled Arkie to connect people to culture in Australia, but also around the world. In 2017, Arkie was able to travel to West Africa with the Australian High Commission of Ghana to showcase Indigenous Textiles from Australia, Ghana and Sierra Leone for NAIDOC Week.

Since relocating from Brisbane to Melbourne, Arkie has put a strong focus on further developing her fine arts practice, alongside the label. With a return to canvas painting works she will be holding a number of solo exhibitions in 2019. Arkie hopes to continue to create meaningful connection to contemporary and ancient culture through both her art and fashion.