Arts and Museums Minister Gerry McCarthy today congratulated Nawurapu Wunungmurra for becoming the inaugural winner of this year’s Telstra New Media Award.

Mr McCarthy said the Telstra New Media Award was introduced this year as part of the 27th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) in recognition of continual development and evolution of Indigenous art practice.

17 artists from across Australia who use digital technology submitted entries into this inaugural Award, with seven of those entries selected as finalists, and I expect this number to grow in future years.

This is an exciting development in a constantly evolving art practice with artists from across Australia utilising innovative communication methods to connect with both traditional and new audiences.

I congratulate Nawurapu Wunungmurra for his work which is composed of black and white carved mokuy figures, washed with dramatic lighting and film footage accessed from Buku-Larrnggay Mulka archives bringing the sacred ground of Balambala (Garma) to life.

The Telstra New Media Award aims to recognise the increasing number of Indigenous artists using new media in their art practice and is the first time this category has been included in the NATSIAAs.

Mr McCarthy also congratulated this year’s other $4000 category award winners who are:

  • Telstra General Painting Award – Mr Donegan – Papa Tjukurpa and Pukara
  • Telstra Bark Painting Award – Glen Namundja – Kunabibbe Ceremony at Manmoyi
  • Telstra Work on Paper Award – Dennis Nona – Saulal
  • Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award sponsored by Telstra – Wukun Wanambi – Bamurrungu

This year’s category award winners are from different parts of Australia and have showcased aesthetic power and technical mastery which form part of this year’s great exhibition that will be open to the public following tomorrow night’s opening celebration at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Mr McCarthy said.

The NATSIAAs are recognised nationally as an important vehicle for promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

This year 96 artworks were selected by an independent panel for this year’s Award from just over 300 entries from around Australia.

I encourage Territorians and tourists to attend tomorrow night’s NATSIAAs opening ceremony on the MAGNT lawns from 5.30pm with the accompanying exhibition open until 7 November.