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How First Nations Artist Tiarna Herczeg Connects to Country
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Written by Jana Bocobo
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4 min read
Double is honoured to collaborate with Kuku Yalanji artist Tiarna Herczeg on an exclusive and limited edition capsule collection that brings her vibrant artworks to life on Australia’s first machine washable rugs. Each design is an original piece by the First Nations artist, showcasing vibrant colours and patterns influenced by her heritage and existing body of work.
Tiarna's art, inspired by Australia's idiosyncratic landscapes, intricately weaves her deep connection to her homeland with the urgency of her cultural and spiritual identity, while not livingon Country. Through vibrant coloursand abstract elements, she expresses her profound longing to return home.
Here in the Shade Yellow New Jute Rug
In Conversation with the Artist
Tell us about yourself.
“As a First Nations artist, I found strength in my dual heritage, embracing the richness of being part of the oldest living culture while cherishing the multiculturalism of my upbringing in Australia.”
Tiarna Herczeg proudly identifies as Kuku Yalanji and Hungarian. Raised within the vibrant tapestry of both cultures, she draws strength from her dual heritage, celebrating the depth of being connected to the oldest living culture while appreciating the multiculturalism of her Australian upbringing. These formative experiences have instilled in her a deep sense of pride and dedication to her roots.
What is the story you want to narrate through your art, and the feelings you'd like to evoke in people through your work?
“I’d like to tell my story, which is also the story of my ancestors and the story of my future. I carry my ancestors' histories.”
Ideally, Tiarna would like that when people view her work, they get lost in the colour and abstraction until they find themselves asking more. She uses her practice as a way of learning about herself and her experience here. Tiarna allows herself the permission to make bad paintings sometimes, to play, and the liberty to let go in the process.
You've been manifesting a rug collaboration for a little while now. Tell us why. How does it feel to see it come to life?
"Home is such a sacred place for me and most people. It felt natural for me to drag my works across to rugs.”
She couldn't be happier to have this dream come to fruition! Tiarna has always wanted to expand her practice. Although it was a bit different from her regular creative process, it felt quite natural, and she thinks she can attribute much of that to the support from the Double team. It was an interesting challenge because she had to envision how her artwork would translate into rugs and integrate into living spaces. Additionally, Tiarna experimented with digital tools, which was a new experience for her. Overall, it was a really enjoyable and fulfilling process for the artist.
Now that the collection’s been launched, which settings do you see your rugs taking space in?
"I want them to be loved and worn over time and have crumbs left on them from kids. I want someone to buy the rug and have it brighten up their space.”
Tiarna would like to see her rugs out in the suburbs in family homes, preferably somewhere near water, which she finds beautiful. The reason being: her artworks are landscapes, and conceptually, they fit near water for her. Ultimately, she wants these rugs to live in homes with lots of love. She envisions them sprawled out amongst things, perhaps even amidst clutter, with natural light and warmth enveloping them. Feeling at home in a space well-lived-in and well-loved.
A Commitment to Community
Each purchase from this collection includes limited-edition merchandise featuring a poem by First Nations writer Phoebe McIlwraith. Inspired by Herczeg's work and the theme of "homeland dreaming," the poem adds another layer of meaning and connection to Country. McIlwraith's words paint a picture of ancestral stories and a yearning for homeland, echoing the sentiment embedded within Herczeg's art.
Furthermore, Double has committed to donating 5% of the collection’s total sales to BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation, an organisation supporting LGBTQ+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in New South Wales. This commitment to social responsibility reflects the collaborative spirit behind the collection, aiming to uplift not only art and design but also the broader First Nations community.
Bring a piece of Tiarna’s Art Home
Let Tiarna’s designs breathe new life into your homes. These rugs hold stories, ready for new tales to unfold in everyday life. A mural for both calm and chaos, made to be lived on, so their stories live on with yours. From her studio to your floors, let Tiarna and Double invite you to make each rug your own canvas.
