Congratulations Sally Scales, winner of the 2021 Telstra People’s Choice Award for her work titled Wati Tjakura, 2021, part of the 2021 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA).
Sally Scales, Wati Tjakura, 2021, synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 120 x 300cm. Photograph: Mark Sherwood. Courtesy the artist and APY Collective
“Thank you for everyone who voted. What an honour to join all the amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. I am lucky to paint with my mother and continue the incredible legacy of my family and arts leaders,” said Scales.
Scales is a Pitjantjatjara woman from Pipalyatjara in the far west of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands whose winning painting depicts Watiti Tjakura, an edible skink lizard creation story that took place at Aralya, and features in the 2021 Telstra NATSIAA exhibition, presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in Darwin in partnership with Telstra.
“The Wal Mala (army) of Wati Wanambi (snake men) from Malara came and threw spears at Wati Tjakura. He tried to escape but they killed him. His family came down to bury him,” explains Scales.
Sally Scales, 2021 Telstra People’s Choice Award winner. Image courtesy the artist and APY Collective
Scales is the youngest person to have been elected as a Chairperson of the APY Executive Board and is part of the leadership team for the Uluru Statement reform. An emerging artist, Sally turned her focus to her artistic practice in 2020 and held her first exhibition at the APY Gallery in 2021.
“I extend a warm congratulations to Sally for winning this respected accolade for her striking contemporary work. MAGNT is very excited to celebrate this young artist and formidable community leader. We are honoured to provide a platform to enable Ms Scales to share her law story and traditions passed on from her Elders with broad national and international audiences.” said Marcus Schutenko, MAGNT Director.
Entries are currently open for the 2022 Telstra NATSIAA, closing on Friday 18 March 2022 at midnight ACST. Enter now.
