Two Indigenous artists were recognised with prestigious awards from the Art Gallery of NSW on Friday, with Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu and Naomi Kantjuriny taking out the Wynne prize and Sulman prize respectively.
The $50,000 Wynne prize for landscape painting and figurative sculpture was won by Yunupiŋu, with landscape painting of Nyalala gurmilili painted with natural pigments on bark and depicts miwatj (sunrise side) in Yolŋu Matha - the first light to reach north-eastern Arnhem land at sunrise.
The painting depicts the landscape during April and the start of Miḏawarr (the harvest season), when the land receives sudden and surprise showers during a time that is meant to be dry.
A first-time Wynne finalist, Yunupiŋu paints Lore connected to the beach at Garriri, through songs her father, artist Muŋgurrawuy Yunupiŋu, gifted her.
The Yolŋu elder, based in Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, was unable to collect the prize in person, but in a statement said: "I am one of seven sisters. There are only three of us left now."
"The songs of this painting were given to me by our father, Muŋgurrawuy. It shows the songs of the seven sisters in the stars crying. Now I am crying. But this time with happiness."
There were 738 entries submitted this year for the prize, with 41 finalists. There were 21 Aboriginal works – the first time in the prize's history there were more works by Indigenous artists than non-Indigenous.
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Also announced Friday, the $40,000 Sulman prize for genre, subject and mural painting, went to Pitjantjatjara artist Naomi Kantjuriny.
Her work, Minyma mamu tjuta, depicts mamu.
The description from the AGNSW states: "Mamu are mainly harmful – evil spirits, monsters, or an illness. They come in different forms and with varying powers. They can also be good spirits, helping and looking after people and children."
A respected community Elder and leading presence at Tjala Arts in Amata on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands) since 2001, Kantjuriny is a ngangkari (traditional healer) specialising in women's and children's health, as well as a hunter, basket-maker, and wood carver.
Unable to travel to the AGNSW, Kantjuriny thanked Tjala Arts, and said she was "so happy".
"The story of the mamu is a story we sing and dance to," Kantjuriny said.
"Mamu are good and bad spirits, sometimes they hold scary stories that teach lessons to the grandkids, sometimes they are funny and joyful stories that make us all laugh. Mamu also protect us from illness and danger.
"Our culture is in everything we do, and I hope culture will be celebrated at Tjala Arts forever, but today is a happy day."
The other prize announced on Friday was the prestigious Archibald Prize, awarded to Laura Jones, for her portrait of the author Tim Winton.
Her work was chosen unanimously by the judges from 1,005 entries - and 57 finalists - and Jones becomes just the 12th woman to win the prize since it began in 1921.
The 138 finalists across all three prizes will be exhibited at the AGNSW from 8 June to 8 September, before going on tour to selected regional areas in NSW and the NT.
