The little Northern Territory island producing nationally acclaimed Indigenous artists

 A small island community in the Northern Territory is producing nationally and internationally recognised artists, seven of whom have been nominated in this year’s Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art Awards.
Northern Territory

Table of Contents

Share This News

A small island community in the Northern Territory is producing nationally and internationally recognised artists, seven of whom have been nominated in this year’s Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art Awards.

Pedro Wonaeamirri has been an artist for 30 years and says his natural surroundings inspire his art.

Walking along the cool sand on the shores of Melville Island, the bigger of the two islands that make up Tiwi, the 47-year-old searches for the perfect rock to collect materials to make his work.

“When I paint, I like to come out here and collect ochres or earth pigments. Ochres have always been used, not just for our art but in ceremony as well,” he explained.

“We sand down the pigments and mix them with water and PVA glue. The only difference with ceremony is that we don’t use glue, we keep it natural.”

While Melville is the larger of the Tiwi Islands, its population is only small, with only 1,049 residents split between Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and small outstations.

Don't Miss Out!

Join The Island Innovation Network!

This occasional newsletter highlights events and stories about innovation in sustainable development for rural, remote and island regions. We want to change the discourse to demonstrate how islandness can be a driver for innovation.

Invalid email address

News

A global media platform with unique insights into island sustainability.​

Content Library

A global media platform with unique insights into island sustainability.​

Find unique and insightful content on island sustainability

In our vast content library you will find original articles, webinars, interviews, past event sessions, island news and much more. Navigate through the categories to find information, get inspired and learn.

Giving visibility to projects worldwide

Our flagship event, the Virtual Island Summit, is one of the biggest events for sustainable development. Every year, it brings together over 10,000 stakeholders from around the world for a week-long virtual event covering every timezone.

Thank you for subscribing!
22-23 May 2024 | Prince Edward Island, Canada

Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2024

Prepare to immerse yourself in this landmark event for the
global island community in 2024!
Live from COP28 - Island of Hope
The Island Innovation Agency Newsletter is a must-read for sustainable business leaders! It delivers a free monthly dose of relevant and valuable business insights, expert advice, downloadable resources, and easy-to-implement ideas for professionals aiming to optimize their results in communication, branding, and networking. By signing up, you will benefit from curated insights for your sustainable brand, exclusive offers, ready-to-use templates and industry news.
Our newsletter on island sustainability is perfect for everyone interested in sustainable development, innovation, and island territories! Every week we compile stories from islands worldwide and highlight commonalities, demonstrating the spectrum of innovation from technology to the arts. Our newsletter brings together globally disparate places and strikes a balance of acknowledging and dealing with critical problems while emphasizing the resourcefulness of isolated communities.