Belonging

Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland is the first in a three-part exhibition series that captures generations of cultural knowledge shaped by a profound relationship to Country.

In these vibrant and innovative works, emerging and established First Nations artists from across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait explore new materials and techniques as they share what it means to belong.

Exhibition highlights

Cropped image of a colourful painting. - click to view larger image — *Our Mother's and Grandmother's Country* by Amanda Jane Gabori and Dorothy Gabori

A red raku clay sculpture roughly in the shape of the torso and head of a human. It has coral for antlers and is painted mainly in shades of brown. The face is painted white with black borders around the eyes and nose. There are two leather cords protruding from the torso threaded on which are two wooden beads. Hanging from a leather cord around the neck are six round and two long wooden beads. - click to view larger image — *Hairy Man* by Philomena Yeatman and Valmai Pollard

Artwork featuring two photographs rendered and abstracted by a checkered pattern. - click to view larger image — *Goiga Pudhai* by Flora Warria

An acrylic painting on wood board. It depicts an army truck carrying children driving along a road near the top, and children playing among plants across the bottom. There is a white church in the top right hand corner, and a tree in the bottom right corner. Written in white across the top is 'I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING'. - click to view larger image — *I Didn't Know Where I Was Going* by Daisy Hamlot

Painting featuring organic shapes and a predominantly red, pink and orange palette. - click to view larger image — *Love Rocks* by Agnes Kohler

Digital artwork of a turtle swimming in a sea with the Southern Cross constellation above and cut and pasted photo of foliage in the foreground. - click to view larger image — *Saulalaw Thonar* by David Bosun

A red raku clay sculpture roughly shaped like the torso and head of a human. It is painted in browns and cream, and features a rounded stomach. Hanging from a metal thread around the neck are round wood beads, and through the nose is a gold ring with a green bead. Twigs or branches are used to represent the hair. - click to view larger image — *Hairy Man* by Wayne Connolly

An acrylic painting on wood board depicting a landscape of green trees and mountains. In the bottom right hand corner are seven human figures standing beside and in a river. Hanging from the trees behind the figures are various types of clothes. - click to view larger image — *Washing Clothes in the Creek* by Wanda Gibson

Artist workshops

A series of workshops were held in the communities involved with Belonging. Art centres and artists nominated the type of workshop they wanted – ranging from advanced painting to ceramics and photography – and emerging and established artists were encouraged to take part.

More than 400 works were created by more than 100 artists. All works were acquired by the National Museum of Australia for its National Historical Collection.

A group of people by the edge of an inlet are taking photos of the surrounding landscape. - click to view larger image — Photography workshop on Moa/Mua Island

A woman is working on ceramic sculptures in a ceramics studio. - click to view larger image — Ceramics workshop at Yarrabah

Five people are painting together around long tables laden with canvases, and other other art materials. - click to view larger image — Workshop in the open-air studio at Hope Vale

A small group of women at easels painting on large canvases in an artist studio. - click to view larger image — Painting workshop at Kunhanhaa, also known as Mornington Island

Artists from four centres feature in the first Belonging exhibition. Learn more about each centre and the artists it represents:

Read the Museum’s media release on Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland

Acknowledgements

Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland is on show at the National Museum of Australia from 7 July 2022 to 12 February 2023.

The Belonging project was developed by the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA). The Belonging publication was generously supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation.

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