How indigenous artists on remote Australian island keep traditions alive through art

Photo credit: Kylie Knott. Retrieved from scmp.com

Artist Pedro Wonaeamirri grabs a chunk of chalky ochre from a seaside cliff on a remote island off Australia’s Northern Territory.

“Ochre is important for our art and also for ceremonies,” he says, holding a clump of the natural white pigment in his hands.

“In a way, this cliff is my art shop where I source supplies but I don’t have to pay GST [goods and services tax].”

Wonaeamirri is a member of the Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, an indigenous arts centre in Milikapiti, a tiny village on Melville Island located roughly 110km (70 miles) – about a 30-minute flight – north of the city of Darwin.

Melville Island and neighbouring Bathurst Island are collectively known as the Tiwi Islands, the home of the Tiwi people, whose culture – one rich in art, music, dance and ceremony – is shaped by a strong connection with the land.

This month, Wonaeamirri is in Hong Kong for Art Basel, the city’s largest annual international arts fair, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 28 to 30.