Australia’s premier Indigenous art, film and cultural event, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), returns to Darwin Convention Centre, Larrakia Country, Northern Territory from 11 to 13 August.
This year’s program explores the intersection of contemporary Indigenous art and the world’s oldest continuing culture showcasing the works of more than 2000 artists, from over 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres. Thousands of traditional and contemporary pieces are available for purchase; paintings on canvas, bark paintings, works on paper including limited edition prints, sculpture and fibre artworks. Highlights include: a fashion runway show, ‘From Country to Couture’, on 9 August; an Indigenous film festival held at Darwin’s iconic Deckchair Cinema on 19 and 20 August; and a panel discussion, ‘What is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art?’ on 11 August at 9am. Each day DAAF presents free cultural performances and art workshops that pass down and celebrate the artist’s traditions as well as new mediums and techniques. New to the program are the children’s activity stations, providing a range of hands-on activities to explore stories and art styles from Arnhem Land and the coastal regions.
“Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair has built a reputation as the most prestigious and largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art fair in the world, with international art collectors referring to us as the ‘Art Basel’ of Australian Indigenous art,” says Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation chair, Franchesca Cubillo.
2015 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, block printing workshop with Marnin Studio. Courtesy Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAFF)
