Having a culture steeped in such rich ancestral history, it is only befitting that the culinary landscape would follow suit. Now it seems the two worlds are colliding in the most expressive way. In a world first, a partnership between First Nations People and the National Museum of Australia has arrived paying homage to the Australian ethos in a celebration of design reflecting 65,000 years of ongoing Australian Indigenous culture.
Here, Aboriginal designer and curator Alison Page has teamed up alongside appliance great Breville in the creation of a number of unique, bespoke designs honouring Australian history, suitably titled an Aboriginal Australian Culinary Journey.
The initiative is grass roots in approach, with 100% of the profits going to: the National Indigenous Culinary Institute’s work, an institution employed to create equal opportunities for aspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chefs; the 'Indi-Kidi Program' spearheaded the Moriarty Foundation in support of childhood nutrition and sharing Indigenous Food Culture.
Page, a Wadi Wadi and Walbanga woman of the Yuin nation is an Associate Professor in Design at the University of Technology Sydney, and sits as the founder of the National Aboriginal Design Agency. In 2006, the designer approached Richard Hoare, Breville’s Design and Innovation Director, to begin a conversation about bringing Indigenous art to life on products that then speak to people in their homes. Now, nearly ten years in the making the designs are being presented to the world in a new step forward educating Australian's about ancient Indigenous beliefs and practices through culinary practice.
The inaugural limited series will feature six design pieces all sampling works by esteemed Western Desert artists, and members of the original Pintupi Nine, Yalti Napangati, Yukultji Napangati, Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri and Sydney-based artist and Yuwaalaraay woman, Lucy Simpson. In conjunction, The National Museum of Australia will feature the limited series in an exhibition, focusing on the continuity of cultural mark-making a staple feature with Indigenous food culture.
The exhibition, An Aboriginal Culinary Journey runs from May 27 to August 7 at the National Museum of Australia before following a global tour to London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Toronto and Los Angeles. The designer collection will also be available to purchase with a limited range is exclusively available at acj.breville.com.