Bark and video artwork spans the ages
Nicolas Rothwell; 16/8/08
A hybrid artwork combining indigenous-made video and Australia’s oldest painting tradition was the star turn at last night’s 25th annual Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, breaking boundaries and winning hearts.Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, a 63-year-old hearing-impaired tent-dweller in remote northeast Arnhem Land painted her flowing, dramatic Incident at Mutpi (1975) on bark, in memory of the moment when a wild buffalo caught her unawares and gored her repeatedly, almost killing her. A video of the artist retelling this episode, with traditional song soundtrack and illustrating scenes of narrative, hangs just beneath the bark on the exhibition wall at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory - and two distant worlds are bridged.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24188580-5013404,00.html
Judge acknowledges concern that led to boycott of indigenous art award
Lindsay Murdoch; 16/8/08
A judge of Australia’s top indigenous art award expressed support for the central Australian artists who refused to submit entries this year, saying their concerns need to be considered. Hetti Perkins, who judged the 25th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, said the artists from seven art centres had the right to “decide in what context their work is seen”. “I totally support the artists who made the decision to withdraw,” said Perkins, senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of NSW.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/national/judge-acknowledges-concern-that-led-to-boycott-of-indigenous-art-award-20080815-3wea.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Art, Australia, Concerns