Yorta Yorta artist Daniel Hills is the winner of the Koorie Art Show, Creative Victoria Award for Excellence in Any Media for his work Goanna Outback, announced on Saturday 9 December 2023.
In his artist statement Daniel says, ‘’Bungarra, known as the sand goanna, plays a vital role in our heritage, being one of our Creators in the Dreamtime story along with representing tribal and individual totems. Bungarra, also tastes pretty good being a traditional delicacy.
My late father was one of those artists who loved representing the goanna in all types of mediums and techniques, painting being his favourite. Incorporating Rattan cane, natural flax leaf strips and jute string I used the intertwining weaving technique to create a goanna shaped sculpture that I tribute to my dad and his love for old Bungarra the sand goanna.
The Koorie Art Show launch coincides with the reopening of KHT across all three floors of the newly renovated Birrarung Building at Fed Square. The stand-alone First Peoples arts and cultural centre – a first of its kind in an Australian capital city – is a significant announcement for First Peoples of South East Australia.
The Koorie Heritage Trust is also delighted to announce all award recipients:
City of Melbourne Aboriginal Melbourne Award, $5,000
Annie Brigdale (Yorta Yorta), Woven, 2023.
Lendlease Reconciliation Award, $5,000
Josh Deane (Palawa), Budgies with artist hands, 2023.
Viva Energy Australia 3D Award, $5,000
Tammy Gilson (Wadawurrung), Barbarrung beenyak (Aunty basket), 2023.
Josh Muir Digital Art Award, $3,000
Alice Pepper (Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Arrernte), Songlines of the Bogong Moth, 2023.
RMIT University Emerging Artist Award, $5,000
Tarsha Davis (Kuku Yalanji, Palawa), Wawu = Wawu, 2023.
KHT’s Encouragement Awards (1 of 2), $500
Tanya Flower (Wakaman), Memories Of A Journey Home, 2023.
KHT Encouragement Awards (2 of 2), $500
Georgia Cromarty (Arrernte), Desert Series #4, 2023
The judging panel for the 11th Koorie Art Show 2023 and the Koorie Art Show Young Mob are: Dr Vicki Couzens (Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong), Emrhan Sultan (Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha) and Lisa Waup (Gunditjmara and Torres Strait Islander).
‘’On behalf of this year’s Koorie Art Show judges, we highly commend all the artists who have submitted and exhibited their works. Your thought-filled artworks – woven, painted, printed, carved, digital, found and made objects – generously spoke of a connection to culture, Country, kin and embodied story.
We want to thank each person who has entered into this year’s KAS, as we appreciate their time and effort put into amazing works.
As a panel, we based our decisions on several outcomes, one being cultural integrity that connected their own brand and learning cultural symbols/iconographies and artistic expressions.
A big congratulations to all the award recipients,’’ the judging panel.
“After extensive renovations, we will open across all three levels of the Birrarung Building. I’m delighted to welcome visitors to come together in the new KHT, and significantly, our first exhibition is our annual community exhibition, the Koorie Art Show,’’ says Tom Mosby, Koorie Heritage Trust CEO.
Over 130 First Peoples artists from across Victoria have entered this year’s Koorie Art Show.
Through a statewide call for entries, the Koorie Art Show is an annual art Award and exhibition dedicated to showcasing the work of Koorie and Victorian based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
Artists generously share their stories and culture, Country and connection; this is an exhibition that brings together painting, works on paper, photography, sculpture, multi-media, fibre art and more.
All works entered are exhibited in a salon hang and are available for sale via the Koorie Heritage Trust website.
The Koorie Art Show continues KHTs role of incubating, nurturing and promoting Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists.
The Koorie Heritage Trust People’s Choice Award $1,000 will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
The Koorie Art Show is proudly supported by Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, ANZ Bank, Lendlease, Viva Energy Australia, RMIT University and Fed Square.
The Koorie Art Show opens Saturday 9 December 2023 – Sunday 25 February 2024, Koorie Heritage Trust, Birrarung Building, Federation Square. www.koorieheritagetrust.com.au
