28th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award

Exhibition dates: 11 August - 30 October 2011

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View the 28th Telstra NATSIAA Online Gallery!

Experience the 28th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) online!

All 61 pre-selected art works featured in this year's Telstra Art Award can be viewed through the online gallery. View the art works in detail and listen to artists' statements about their artwork.

Vote for who you think should be the People's Choice Winner - you can submit your vote via the online gallery or alternatively in the exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. You may only vote once in the People’s Choice Award.

The online gallery is available in two formats, a high bandwidth version for users with a fast internet speed and a low bandwidth version for those on slower download speeds (dial-up).

28th Telstra NATSIAA Winner's

The Telstra Award was awarded to South Australian artist Dickie Minyintiri for his insightful painting reflective of his rich personal history. Selected from 60 other pre-selected works, Kanyalakutjina (Euro tracks) is synthetic polymer paint on canvas and uses Dickie’s idiosyncratic expressive style.

Kanyalakutjina (Euro tracks) is a remarkable painting in which Dickie reflects on his more than 90 years of walking his country, tracing the tracks of animals to the central and important kapi tjukula (waterholes) to drink; and where Wati (men) also went for inma (ceremonies).

Born in Pilpirinyi in Western Australia, Dickie Minyintiri is one of the most senior Pitjantjatjara men alive today, endeared and revered by the whole community as one of the most significant and important artists from the region, a highly respected Ngangkari (traditional healer), and senior Law Man.

The Telstra General Painting Award was awarded to Bobby West Tjupurrula from Kiwirrkura in Western Australia for his untitled work that depicts designs associated with the significant rockhole site of Tarkul, north of Mt Webb in Western Australia. This is the site where large groups of Tingari men came in ancestral times to be burnt in a large fire.

The Telstra Bark Painting Award was awarded to Raelene Kerinauia from Melville Island in the Northern Territory for her work Kayimwagakimi Jilamara. Raelene’s winning bark painting represents her Dreaming, yirrikipayi (crocodile) and was painted using a special technique with the kayimwagakimi (comb).

The Telstra Works on Paper was awarded to Dennis Nona from Torres Strait for his work Zuga Zug. Widely acknowledged as one of the most important Torres Strait Islander artists, Dennis has won the Telstra Works on Paper category for the second year running and was awarded the overall Telstra Art Award in 2007. His winning work on paper, Zuga Zug reflects an important story from Dennis’ homeland, etched in his unique style.

The Wandjuk Marika Memorial Three-Dimensional Award, sponsored by Telstra, was awarded to 69-year-old Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi from Elcho Island in Eastern Arnhem Land, for his work Banumbirr (Morning Star poles). Gali has used different elements of natural pigments, feathers, wood and string to create the Morning Star poles, which is sacred to the Dhuwa clans of the Yolngu people.

The Telstra New Media Award which was introduced for the first time last year was awarded to 44-year-old and first-time Telstra Art Award finalist Ricardo Idagi from Murray Island in Queensland, for his work Upi mop le – Tail end man. Ricardo has used moving images inside a mask, to bring it to life and provide a glimpse into Ricardo’s powerful personal experiences.

NATSIAA Background

The Award was established in 1984 as the National Aboriginal Art Award by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The aim of the Award is to recognise the important contribution made by Indigenous artists and to promote appreciation and understanding of the quality and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from regional and urban based Indigenous artists throughout Australia, working in traditional and contemporary media. The Award is an important showcase for both established and emerging artists and has come to be regarded as one of the premier national events in the Australian Indigenous art calendar.

The Award attracts a range of Indigenous artists from all parts of the country and about 100 works are selected each year from around 300 entries. The diversity and style of work submitted each year reflects the changing face of contemporary Aboriginal art practice.

Telstra has sponsored the Award since 1992 and has continued to further enhance its profile and prestige. In 2000, Telstra doubled the First Prize money from $20,000 to $40,000. In 2006, the Telstra First Prize was re-named the Telstra Award.

In 2010 the Telstra New Media Award was introduced in recognition of this emerging field in Indigenous art practice. This category has become a permanent fixture following last year’s inaugural success at Telstra NATSIAA and will attract $4000 along with other categories.

In 2011 the Telstra Award of $40,000 is awarded to the work considered by judges to be the most outstanding work in the exhibition.  

The Telstra Award of $40,000 and the five media category prizes are non-acquisitive.

For more information, contact

Award Coordinator
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 4646
Darwin NT 0801		 Phone: (08) 8999 8203
Facsimile: 08 8999 8148
Email: natsiaa@nt.gov.au