kith and kin 2024

The phrase 'kith and kin' now simply means 'friends and family'. However, an earlier Old English definition that dates from the 1300s shows 'kith' originally had the added meanings of 'countrymen' and 'one’s native land', with kin meaning 'family members'. Many Indigenous Australians, especially those who grew up on Country, know the land and other living things as part of their kinship systems: the land itself can be a mentor, teacher, or parent to a child. This sense of belonging involves everyone and everything, and for First Nations peoples of Australia, like most Indigenous cultures, is deeply rooted in our sacred landscapes from birth until death. I was interested in the phrase as it aptly describes the artwork, but I was also interested in the Old English meaning of the words, as it feels more like a First Nations understanding of attachment to place, people and time.

— Archie Moore

On 20 April, the Jury of the 2024 Venice Biennale — comprising Jury President Julia Bryan-Wilson, Alia Swastika, Chika Okeke-Agulu, Elena Crippa and María Inés Rodríguez — awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation to Australia for kith and kin by artist Archie Moore, curator Ellie Buttrose and commissioner Creative Australia. This is the first time in the history of Venice Biennale that an Australian project has received the accolade.

Visit the Creative Australia kith and kin website.