Celebrating Indigenous Art at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair: A Community of Creativity Amidst Rising Costs
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, a vibrant annual celebration of Indigenous art, is in full swing, drawing in thousands of art lovers and collectors from across the globe. Among the talented artists showcasing their work is Angelina Boona from Kalumburu, a remote settlement in Western Australia. Despite the challenging two-day drive to Darwin, Boona finds the experience rewarding, with some of her pieces already sold.
“We love coming to Darwin and seeing all the people,” Boona shared. “It’s like we are all a big family—we come together through our artworks.”
This year’s event is particularly noteworthy, featuring over 70 Indigenous-owned art centres, including the first-ever participant from New South Wales, Malang Indigenous Corporation from the Hunter Valley.
Saretta Fielding, artist and chief executive of Malang, highlighted a significant challenge many Indigenous artists face—access to marketing and digital tools. “A lot of Aboriginal artists don’t have the opportunity or knowledge,” Fielding explained. “There’s a digital divide for them to take their art from the canvas and out of their home.”
The fair has attracted a massive crowd, with lines wrapping around the Darwin Convention Centre as 4,000 people arrived on Friday and up to 7,000 more expected on Saturday. While the event promises significant exposure and sales, the financial strain on participating art centres is undeniable. According to Claire Summers, the fair’s executive director, the rising cost of living and logistical challenges, such as the collapse of Rex Airlines, have made it increasingly difficult for remote art centres to participate.
“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 centres,” Summers said. “They’re spending a crippling amount of money to be here.”
Despite these challenges, the fair holds great promise for the artists, with international curators and commercial galleries in attendance. Summers passionately believes that Aboriginal art is undervalued globally and deserves a prominent place on the world stage.
“Our artists here are unbelievably world class and belong on a world stage,” Summers said. “You’re not just buying an artwork; you’re actually buying someone’s heritage, story, and spirituality. It’s an amazing gift that these guys are giving us.”
The fair is also an opportunity for Australian collectors like Amanda Davis from Melbourne, who left with three paintings and a determination to return for more.
Additionally, artists like Racy Pitt from Erub Arts on Darnley Island are making an impact with sculptures crafted from discarded fishing nets, a creative response to environmental concerns. “We try to do something nice and make artwork out of it,” Pitt said, noting the demand for their unique pieces.
As the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair continues through the weekend, artists like Angelina Boona hope to see more participation from Western Australian artists, encouraging the younger generation to embrace their cultural heritage through art.
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is a powerful reminder of the rich cultural tapestry that Indigenous artists bring to the world stage, despite the mounting challenges they face.
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