Australian design brand Koskela has collaborated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on an extraordinary lighting collection. 

The exhibition, titled Ngalya, features handwoven lighting designs developed with artists from six art centres around the country: Bula’Bula Arts, Durrmu Arts, Milingimbi Art and Culture, Moa Arts, Ngarrindjeri Weavers, and Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Each piece combines ancient and increasingly rare craftsmanship techniques with modern interior design while providing an economic platform to Indigenous artists. 

All the products in Ngalya have been crafted ‘on country’ (meaning the site of each artist’s ancestral land and place of residence) using locally harvested plant fibres and natural, handmade dyes in a labour-intensive creative process. The exhibition is showing at Koskela’s Rosebery store before travelling to the South Australian School of Art as part of Tarnanthi, an annual national celebration of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. All works will be available to purchase. 

2019 marks 10 years since Koskela began working with Indigenous artists. As a registered member of the Indigenous Art Code, the brand is committed to preserving and promoting ethical trade in the industry. Koskela has been committing one percent of all product sales since 2017 to the development of these opportunities, equating to roughly 10 per cent of the company’s profits. In the same year, Koskela became the first Australian furniture and lighting company to be granted B Corp certification. This certification means the business balances purpose and profit and is legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

Look out for our most our next podcast episode with Koskela founder Sasha Titchkosky to be released later this week!

Ngalya
Wednesday August 28th – Wednesday September 18th
Koskela
1/85 Dunning Ave
Rosebery NSW