For artist Angelina Boona, making the two-day journey from Kalumburu, the northernmost settlement in Western Australia, to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair was a significant effort. Yet, the long trek has already paid off. Boona, who has sold several of her artworks, is relishing her time in the city. “We love coming to Darwin and seeing all the people,” she shared with AAP. “It’s like we are all a big family—we come together through our artworks.” Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair: A Celebration of Indigenous Talent and Resilience
The 2024 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair was a vibrant showcase of Indigenous creativity, featuring art from more than 70 Indigenous-owned art centers. Among them was the Malang Indigenous Corporation from the Hunter Valley, marking the first time a New South Wales art organization participated in the event. Saretta Fielding, artist and CEO of Malang, highlighted the challenges many Aboriginal artists face in marketing their work. “A lot of Aboriginal artists don’t have the opportunity or knowledge,” she explained. “There’s a digital divide for them to take their art from the canvas and out of their home.”
By Friday, the fair was bustling with activity, as art buyers queued around the exterior of the Darwin Convention Centre. With 4,000 visitors expected on Friday and up to 7,000 on Saturday, the event’s popularity was undeniable. Although it’s too early to gauge total sales figures, the costs for art centers have been substantial, with some spending over $40,000 on travel alone, according to the fair’s executive director Claire Summers.
“The cost of living is horrendous, and the people who are struggling the most are not the retirees who are shopping like mad—it’s art centers,” Summers said. She emphasized the financial burden remote art centers face, with petrol prices in some areas reaching $3 per liter and the collapse of Rex Airlines further complicating travel logistics. Despite these challenges, there is hope that the investment will lead to increased sales and global interest in Aboriginal art.
International curators and representatives from prestigious institutions, such as the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris and London’s Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, were among the fair’s attendees. Summers, who recently visited international exhibitions where works sold for over $1 million, believes that Aboriginal art remains undervalued on the global stage. “Our artists here are unbelievably world-class and belong on a world stage,” she said. “You’re not just buying an artwork; you’re actually buying someone’s heritage and story and spirituality. It’s an amazing gift that these guys are giving us.”
Australian art buyers also showed strong support. Amanda Davis from Melbourne left the fair on Friday with three paintings from Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara Art and Iwantja Arts. One of the pieces was so large it might not fit into her suitcase, but she remained eager to return on Saturday to explore some three-dimensional works. “I’ll count my money and see if I can come back and get a weaving,” she said.
Another artist who made a significant journey to Darwin was Racy Pitt from Erub Arts on Darnley Island in the Torres Strait. Pitt showcased a range of sculptures made from discarded fishing nets—a poignant reminder of the environmental damage these nets cause. “All the nets are destroying things when they are floating around—they destroy our reef, the marine life on the reef,” she explained. “We try to do something nice and make artwork out of it.” Sculptures of turtles and stingrays from Erub Arts are highly sought after, with one of their recent commissions—a large hand-crafted public artwork—now installed at Sydney’s Exchange Square in Barangaroo South.
As the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair concluded on Sunday, Angelina Boona expressed her desire to see more Western Australian artists participate in future events. “I want to encourage young people to participate, concentrate on being artists, and share their country,” she said.
The fair not only celebrated the incredible talent of Indigenous artists but also highlighted the resilience and dedication required to bring their stories and heritage to the world stage.
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Source: https://nit.com.au/12-08-2024/13029/crowds-descend-on-art-fair-as-artists-face-cost-hikes
