2011 Recipient of the Western Australian Indigenous Award Gunybi Ganambarr Milngurr 2011 ochre, earth pigment and acrylic binder on rubber 97.0 x 77.0 cm Artwork courtesy of the artist and the Buku-Larrnggay Centre, Yirrkala, Northern Territory Image © Gunybi Ganambarr, courtesy of the artist and the Buku-Larrnggay Centre, Yirrkala, Northern Territory)
Since 2008, the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards have been celebrating the ‘breadth, diversity and excellence of art from all corners of Indigenous Australia.’ Now a biennial event, it is the Australia’s richest Indigenous arts prize.
Finalists have the opportunity to share in $65 000 worth of prizes. $50 000 of this will be awarded to the work considered by the judging panel to be the most outstanding, with $10 000 for the The Western Australian Artist Award and the remaining $5 000 for the People’s Choice Award (as voted by visitors). The awards and associated exhibition are in recognition of ’the significant and ongoing contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists make to Australian art, culture and society’.
The exhibition features 16 distinguished finalists from across the country: Nora Wompi, Yhonnie Scarce, Wakun Wanambi, Julie Gough, Churchill Cann, Christian Thompson, Ray Ken, Beaver Lennon, Minyawe Miller, Abe Muriata, Wintjiya Napaltjarri, Lawrence Omeenyo, Brian Robinson, Dulcie Sharpe, Conrad Tipungwuti and Ngipi Ward.
This dynamic selection of artists, together celebrate and challenge our understanding of culture, life and self in unique and engaging ways.
Recipients will be announced at the exhibition Opening on Thursday 22nd August, 2013.
Source: Art Gallery of Western Australia