Konstantina

Konstantina (Kate Constantine)

Konstantina (Kate Constantine) is a proud Gadigal woman of the Eora nation and a neo-contemporary Indigenous artist. She is re-imagining the traditions of her peoples’ dot painters and providing a modern narrative for all people to better understand a First Nations perspective as part of the fabric of Australia.

As a descendant of the Gadigal, she is passionate about her language, Culture and histories, much of which have been lost, misplaced or manipulated since the dawn of Colonisation. As such, her practice is heavily interconnected with her Mob and their oral histories and married with her esteemed academic research.

Her artworks are a physical manifestation of these stories and histories, a document in time to reconnect her people to their Country.

Konstantina is a highly sought after contemporary artist who is represented by galleries in Paris, London, Sydney, Melbourne and Margaret River, where her solo shows have sold out consistently for almost a decade. Her works have been awarded finalist places in over twenty Art Prizes and Awards, and been profiled at international art shows, on TV, used by celebrities and for high profile restaurant and corporate works. Her public artworks are the most recent addition to her practice and have seen her take over shopping centres, parklands and office buildings with her trademark contemporary edge.

“My arts practice is my act of storytelling and reclamation, it is highly detailed in both style and cultural substance. I like to think my works represent a document in time to help connect both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples to our rich Culture; our past, our present and our future.” 

BURAGA
KONSTANTINA, 2022

In Gadigal, ‘Buraga’ is a motion verb (Arise / Step Up / Stand Up), but in this painting I mean it metaphorically. It's an acknowledgement of people and organisations being ‘Buraga’ or stepping up to reconciliation.