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Now in it’s ninth year, the National Indigenous Arts Awards recognises and celebrates the outstanding work and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. These prestigious national awards consist of the Red Ochre, a Fellowship and the Dreaming Award.
With a national panel of Indigenous arts peers, consisting of leading Indigenous artists, curators and arts managers from each state and territory, including the Torres Strait Islands, this year’s winners were announced at the official awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Friday 27 May 2016.
Australia Council Chair Rupert Myer AO affirms the importance of the awards.
“The awards put a spotlight on the significant contribution Indigenous artists make to the artistic vibrancy and cultural life of Australia. They encourage us to experience, appreciate and learn about the diverse cultures and ancient stories of our First Peoples through the broad range of work created by Indigenous artists across Australia,” Myer said.
This year the Red Ochre, Australia’s most esteemed peer-assessed award for an Indigenous artist, was presented to world-renowned Ngarrindjeri weaver Yvonne Koolmatrie (SA). Awarded since 1993, the $50,000 prize acknowledges an artist’s outstanding contribution to and lifetime achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts at a national and international level.
Australia Council Board Director Lee-Ann Buckskin said Yvonne Koolmatrie was chosen as this year’s Red Ochre Award recipient for her pioneering work in preserving the ancient art form of Ngarrindjeri weaving.
“Yvonne Koolmatrie’s life was changed when she attended a workshop led by the late Ngarrindjeri Elder Aunty Dorothy Kartinyeri on the traditional ‘basic’ stitch weaving of native sedge, which grows throughout the Coorong,” Buckskin said. Her work has since elevated to global status, including representing Australia at the 1997 Venice Biennale, alongside fellow Indigenous artists Judy Watson and the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
“A comprehensive survey of Yvonne’s work was a highlight exhibition within TARNANTHI: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2015-2016. Riverland: Yvonne Koolmatrie celebrated the 30-year career of this significant Ngarrindjeri artist and was curated by Hetti Perkins, Jonathan Jones and Nici Cumpston in close consultation with the artist.
“Yvonne’s belief Ngarrindjeri weaving should be passed down to the next generation to preserve Ngarrindjeri culture, has seen her mentor many young artists and share the stories of the Riverland and her people”, Buckskin concludes.
Interdisciplinary artist, consultant and community cultural development teacher Vicki Couzens (Vic) received the Fellowship, providing $40,000 a year for two years to create a major project.
Buckskin said Vicki Couzens was another Indigenous woman working to preserve Aboriginal culture and stories for future generations, most notably through her work making possum cloaks.
“Vicki Couzens uses various mediums, including printmaking, painting, public art, weaving and possum cloaks, to tell stories of place, Country, people, family. Story is how her culture is passed on to the next generations and how culture is maintained,” Buckskin said.
“Vicki’s two-year fellowship project, yunggama (to give and receive) will contain four elements: soundscape, comprising song and spoken word in her language; projection, comprising dance and movement; made cultural objects, such as possum cloaks, weavings and tools; and an illustrated anthology of her writings.
“She hopes the project will strengthen and continue cultural knowledge, story and practice, with a particular emphasis on ‘women’s business’, for the younger generations and the future, especially for her five daughters and their families.”
The Dreaming Award provides $20,000 to an artist aged 18-26 to create a major body of work through mentoring or partnerships. Lyricist, rapper, composer and producer Nooky (Corey Webster) (NSW) was awarded the honour.
“Nooky’s foray into the arts began when he learned Aboriginal dance from his uncles when he was at school in Nowra, which led to him being part of a group chosen to perform at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Since then he has written music and soundscapes for theatre, TV and film, but his first love is hip hop,” Buckskin said.
“Nooky’s Dreaming Award project will see him record an album and produce two video clips under the mentorship of leading Indigenous hip hop artists Briggs, Trials and Jimblah.”
National Indigenous Arts Awards – Australia Council
Image: Nooky with Yvonne Koolmatrie and Vicki Couzens, NIAA 2016
