Kyra Mancktelow – Telstra Emerging Artist Award

Kyra Mancktelow’s multidisciplinary practice investigates legacies of colonialism, posing important questions such as how we remember and acknowledge history.

Moongalba II investigates victims of the Myora mission on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). The uniforms signify the attempts made to assimilate children under a strict missionary regime in 1892–96. The fabric used to create these uniforms is traditionally used to remove coloured ink from the etching plate – this acts as a metaphor of scratching away colour. Mancktelow brings colour back into these clothes by rubbing inks into the fabric to represent the continuation of strong culture and traditions.

An emerging Quandamooka artist with links to the Mardigan people of Cunnamulla, Kyra’s practice includes sculpture, ceramics and printmaking – each applying a unique and distinct aesthetic. Her use of local materials in her sculpture, including clay, emu features, and Talwalpin (cotton tree), strengthens her connection to Country, and her printmaking exploring intergenerational trauma as a result of forced integration on colonial missions.

A recent graduate from Queensland College of Art’s Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art program, Kyra works with various materials to share her rich heritage, stories, and traditions to educate audiences and strengthen her connection to Country.

She is represented by N. Smith Gallery in Sydney.