LAW firm King Wood & Mallesons has donated award-winning artwork by Barkindji-Italian artist, Teena McCarthy, to the BAMM collection.

At an AGM with a difference earlier this month, BAMM was presented the artwork by Sarah Cox on behalf of King Wood & Mallesons, along with artist Teena McCarthy and Djon Mundine, a curator, writer and artist who, with Ramingining artists created the Aboriginal Memorial, which has been on continuous display at the National Gallery of Australia since 1988.

In an intimate gathering of staff, board members and BAMM supporters, the recently refurbished downstairs gallery space was transformed into a place of sanctity, connection and storytelling.

Teena McCarthy spoke of her deep connections to regional NSW and her love of Moree, expressing her happiness and gratitude at having her work Kopi in the Mourning accepted into the BAMM collection.

“I feel especially honoured to now permanently live in BAMM’s collection,” Teena said.
“I love Moree and feel at home here.”

BAMM director, Rosie Dennis, elaborated on the special occasion.

“We’re thrilled to welcome this new work into the BAMM Collection. This emotionally charged work depicts an important cultural practice and tells a powerful story,” Rosie said.

“The BAMM collection is home to more than 1000 works of art, each with their own story.

“We welcome the story of Kopi in the Mourning to the collection and look forward to sharing the work on walls in the gallery over the coming years.”

(from left) Sarah Cox from King Wood & Mallesons, BAMM board member Wayne Tighe, BAMM team member Sarah Vickerman, artist Teena McCarthy, BAMM board member Sue Brooker, BAMM chair Annabelle Simpson, BAMM board members Lizzie Von Gavel and Leigh Caroll, curator Djon Mundine and BAMM director Rosie Dennis.

Teena McCarthy delivered a poem she wrote, creating a very real, emotional energy in the room.

Kopi in the Mourning is a powerful, deeply personal work conveying a strong sense of sorrow and pain.

The artists is a descendant of The Stolen Generations and her work explores her family’s displacement and loss of culture and Australia’s hidden history.

Aboriginal curator, writer, artist and activist, Djon Mundine spoke of Teena’s practice and the power of art.

“Art is a cultural expression; a history of people; a statement through a series of life experiences of self-definition; a recounting of an untold story; the bringing to light of a truth of history – a statement possibly unable to be made in any other way,” Djon said.