This inaugural festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, ‘TARNANTHI’, aims to cast a new light on the art of Australia’s rich and diverse indigenous cultures. The South Australian festival’s name comes from a Kaurna word, from the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains, and means to come forth, or appear – like the sun and the first emergence of light, or a seed sprouting. For many cultures, first light signifies new beginnings.
The festival’s artistic vision is to encourage new beginnings by providing artists with opportunities to create new work. The festival team have been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across the country to push their practices and the skills they have developed in studios, art centres, institutions and communities.
‘TARNANTHI’ will host a series of exhibitions across South Australia to showcase and challenge ideas surrounding Aboriginal art. At its core is the Art Gallery of South Australia’s most ambitious exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in its 134-year history. With work that ranges from Brian Robinson’s contemporary sculpture Custodian of the Blooms, to paintings by the Spinifex Arts Project, and husband and wife team Dinni Kunoth Kemarre and Josie Kunoth Petyarre’s painted wooden AFL-inspired sculptures, Bush Footy, and lots more.
While the festival officially starts on 8 October, one exhibition, opening 12 September, and not to be missed is the ‘Riverland: Yvonne Koolmatrie’ show at the Art Gallery of South Australia. It’s a comprehensive collection of Ngarrindjeri weaver, Yvonne Koolmatrie’s beautiful, elegant and labour-intensive woven forms.
TARNANTHI
8 to 18 October, 2015
South Australia
Yvonne Koolmatrie, Ngarrindjeri people, South Australia, Bowl, 1988, spiny-headed sedge (Cyperus gymnocaulos)
Photography: Saul Steed
Courtesy the artist and Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney
