2022 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards Winners announced - NATSIAA's 2022 exhibition is available to view online
On Friday August 5th the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory announced this year’s Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) winners.
Margaret Rarru Garrawurra, Senior Yolŋu artist from Laŋarra, Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is the prestigious 2022 Telstra Art Award $100,000 prize winner with Dhomala (pandanus sail) 2022.
Dhomala (pandanus sail), references both the artist’s cultural identity, as well as the historical relationships that endure between Yolŋu people, and the people of modern-day Indonesia.
The Telstra NATSIAA is the longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art awards in the country. In partnership with Telstra, these awards are the richest in Australia. Artists share in a total of $190,000 (previously $80,000) with the prize money for the major Telstra Art Award doubling to $100,000. Each of the category awards tripling from $5,000 to $15,000. Funds for acquisitions by MAGNT into the Telstra Collection have also increased by $10,000 to a total of $50,000.
The 2022 NATSIAA Exhibition is available online for those who cannot visit the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in the inner Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay.
Margaret Rarru Garrawurra was born in Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island). Today she lives on her mother’s Country of Laŋarra (Howard Island) and at Yurrwi / Milingimbi, both off the coast of Northeast Arnhem Land.
Margaret Rarru Garrawurra said:
"I was with my sisters when I found out about winning. We were very happy. It makes us proud to get first prize.
This is a Makassan dhomala (sail). Yolŋu people were watching Makassan people weaving their dhomala over time ... then they started to make them. My father picked up the skill as well. He used to make them, Makassan dhomala. I was watching my father making these dhomala. He was making them, and I was watching. I thought about how he made them, my father, and I started remembering. And now I'm making these.”
Rarru Garrawurra’s ambitious weaving in Dhomala (pandanus sail) has been rendered using a mixture of natural dyes to achieve deep red, black, orange, and yellow. Dhomala embodies the time-consuming processes of harvesting pandanus and colours, as well as processing materials and weaving. Each of these stages of production are as important as the other.
Adam Worrall, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) Director said:
“Congratulations to master weaver, Margaret Rarru Garrawurra for winning this coveted award. I was captivated by how she has transformed her knowledge of Yolŋu weaving into this iconic Makassan design typology.
I’ve watched the Telstra NATSIAA for many years and greatly admire the impact this partnership between MAGNT and Telstra has had on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts sector. It provides a valuable platform where artists share ideas, mediums and practices which are happening right now and allows visitors to see a snapshot of the magnificent artworks currently being created around the country. I extend a warm congratulations to all the category winners and finalists.”
The 2022 Telstra NATSIAA Judging Panel said:
“Rarru Garrawurra has created a monumental sculpture that is both majestic in scale and exacting in technical virtuosity. Hers is a powerful work which reminds us that Yolŋu long been active and intrepid explorers, participating in international trade since well before the arrival of the Europeans.”
Telstra’s Chief Executive Office, Andy Penn said, “Congratulations to Margaret Rarru Garrawurra on her incredible work that connects us with the cultural history of the Yolŋu people, and to all the 2022 Telstra NATSIAA winners who have once again delivered extraordinary work across a broad range of mediums.
“Telstra is proud to have supported the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards for over 30 years, celebrating both emerging and distinguished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
“Now as Australia’s richest art awards, we hope it will further attract a wide range of talented First Nations artists with a diversity of artistic talent to enter their works and share their unique Australian stories.”
Telstra NATSIAA is Australia’s most prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art award. This year, 63 finalists from across Australia have been selected from a total of 221 entries.
Congratulations to all the 2022 Telstra NATSIAA category winners:
2022 TELSTRA ART AWARD WINNER
A HUGE congratulations goes to Margaret Rarru Garrawurra, Senior Yolŋu artist from Laŋarra, Arnhem Land in the NT is the prestigious 2022 Telstra Art Award $100,000 prize winner with Dhomala (pandanus sail) 2022.
"I was with my sisters when I found out about winning. We were very happy. It makes us proud to get first prize." - Margaret Rarru Garrawurra
TELSTRA GENERAL PAINTING AWARD WINNER | Betty Muffler, Ngangkari Ngura (Healing Country) 2021, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 167 x 198cm. Courtesy of the artist and Iwantja Arts.
TELSTRA WORKS ON PAPER AWARD WINNER | Gary Philip Lee, Nagi 2022, oil pastel and pencil on digital print, 40 x 28cm. Courtesy of the artist. Image: Charlie Bliss
TELSTRA BARK PAINTING AWARD WINNER | Ms D. Yunupiŋu, Yunupiŋu – The Rock 2021, earth pigments and recycled print toner on stringybark, 217 x 98cm. Courtesy of the estate of Ms D. Yunupiŋu and Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka.
WANDJUK MARIKA MEMORIAL 3D AWARD (sponsored by Telstra) | Bonnie Burangarra and Freda Ali Wayartja, An-gujechiya 2021, burny vine (Malaisia scandens), bush cane (Flagellaria indica), kurrajong (Brachychiton diversifolius), 64 x 280 x 61cm. Courtesy of the artist and Maningrida Arts & Culture.
TELSTRA MULTIMEDIA AWARD WINNER | Jimmy John Thaiday, Beyond the lines 2022, single channel HD video: 16:9, colour, sound, 5:22 minutes. Courtesy of the artist and Erub Arts
TELSTRA EMERGING ARTIST AWARD WINNER | Louise Malarvie, Pamarr Yara 2022, earth pigments on canvas, 125 x 130cm. Courtesy of the artist and Waringarri Arts.