The Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) will be held on August 9 at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) on Larrakia Country in Darwin. Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards: Celebrating Indigenous Art
One of this year’s 72 finalists, Thea Perkins, expressed her excitement and honor in being part of the prestigious event. “I’ve always admired the Telstra NATSIAA awards as they’ve always had work by extraordinary artists, giants of beautiful, profound expression. It’s a dream to be included,” said Perkins.
Thea Perkins: A Journey of Cultural Inspiration
Perkins, a proud Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, draws inspiration from her Indigenous heritage and upbringing. Although she grew up and works on Gadigal land in Sydney, she feels a strong connection to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and the desert. “These two places have been a powerful influence on my practice,” she shared.
Perkins’ journey in art was influenced by her mother, a curator, which exposed her to a wealth of art and artists from an early age. This environment allowed her to pursue art as a means of expressing emotions and interpreting the world.
‘Return’: A Celebration of Heritage and Art
Perkins’ recent work, ‘Return,’ has earned her recognition in the 2024 NATSIAA awards. Created from 2022 to 2024, ‘Return’ is inspired by a slide of her family on the road to Mparntwe in the seventies, bogged after rain. The piece captures the essence of the red center sands, the stretching road, and the iconic Holden Kingswood. Perkins aimed to blend landscape and portraiture in this work, exploring the contrast of detail and rhythm and the concept of returning to one’s roots.
Art as a Bridge
Perkins believes art plays a crucial role in preserving and sharing Indigenous culture and stories. “Art can foster an appreciation of culture and stories, and in this way, it can really bridge divides in understanding and shift ways of thinking. Aboriginal culture is a national treasure and should be treated that way,” she stated.
Balancing traditional Indigenous art forms with contemporary influences, Perkins starts her works with her context and culture as an Aboriginal person and then uses a contemporary lens to communicate her ideas. She hopes to merge Aboriginal worldviews with the collective imagination.
Future Projects
Perkins has exciting plans for the remainder of 2024. She will open a show at N. Smith Gallery on August 15, continuing her work in portraiture. “I can’t wait to share these works,” she said.
The exhibition showcasing the Telstra NATSIAA finalists will run until January 27, 2025, providing an opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of Indigenous art.
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