In a collaborative installation that spotlights a serious collective issue, Anwar Young, Frank Young and Unrupa Rhonda Dick have been awarded the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) for their multimedia artwork, Kulata Tjuta – Wati kulunypa tjukurpa (Many spears – Young fella story) (2017).
The family of artists from Anangu Country parallel their practice with social work and community engagement; Frank Young is a leader in Amata, and with a focus on photography Dick educates young women at Tjala Arts centre. Anwar, grandson of Frank, has particular care and concern for the treatment of young people in juvenile detention. Both Anwar and Unrupa contribute to the ‘Kulata Tjuta project’, which welcomes young men to learn the traditional way to make kulata (spears).
Anwar Young, Unrupa Rhonda Dick and Frank Young, Kulata Tjuta – Wati kulunypa tjukurpa (Many spears – Young fella story), 37 spears, digital print, wood, kangaroo tendon, kiti (natural glue), 34th Telstra NATSIAA. Courtesy the artists
The trio’s subject is ‘Anangu (Central Australian Aborigines)’ and, as they assert “We see many young men from remote communities becoming stuck in a cycle of reoffending and being locked up in juvenile detention centres, like Magill and Don Dale. We are concerned the whitefella way of locking people up isn’t working.” Frank feels that young men would benefit from being brought back to the country to work with senior men to help look after families and communities.
Emily McDaniel, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Chris Saines, Director of Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art and artist Regina Wilson, selected the winning-work and commented, “The Kulata (spears) are suspended in a cell-like formation but they also function to protect a young man who looks not to us but to the future. The image is watermarked with cultural designs and the text in language has a sense of urgency and immediacy – words written, erased, edited. This work is a solemn and dignified call to action – to bring young Aboriginal men back to culture, language and country.”
Kulata Tjuta – Wati kulunypa tjukurpa was chosen from 300 entries and stood out amongst the 65 finalists on view now at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in Darwin until 26 November. In addition to this major prize, six-categories honour diverse disciplines with the title and a prize of $5,000. This year’s award recipients include; Matjangka (Nyukana) Norris for painting, Robert Fielding in the division for works on paper, Nyapanyapa Yunupingu for her bark painting, Shirley Macnamara won the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award and the emerging artist prize went to Betty Muffler.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)
Until November 26, 2017
Northern Territory
