AUSTRALIA
A young Aboriginal man stands alone in the darkness, imprisoned by dozens of traditional spears suspended around him in a cell-like formation, as words scribbled urgently in language urge him to think back to his family and the freedom outside.
The solemn artwork, a dignified call to action for troubled indigenous kids behind bars to get behind their culture instead, has won Australia's most prestigious Aboriginal art prize.
The multimedia collaboration by South Australian artists Frank Young, Anwar Young and Unrupa Rhonda Dick took out the $50,000 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award on Friday.
It was a family affair for Frank Young, who teamed up with his grandson and niece for the work titled Kulata Tjuta – Wati Kulunypa tjukurpa or 'Many spears – young fella story'.
It shows the power of the next generation learning traditional spear-making methods as a way to foster pride and a connection to country.
The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara chairman says he's seen many youngsters from remote communities who get stuck in a cycle of reoffending and are sent to juvenile detention centres like Darwin's notorious Don Dale.
He is concerned the "whitefella way of locking people up" isn't working, and vulnerable children should be brought back to their communities to learn traditional culture from senior men.
"I learned from my ancestors and... I wanted to tell our story, our aboriginal land story," he said.
"We need young people behind culture, not behind bars."
The installation's spears also function to protect the young man as he looks to the future, and Ms Dick said the text, which is written, erased and edited, holds a sense of urgency in its message.
"It's telling all the young people who get locked up, they get stressed out, to think back to their families and the freedom outside," she said.
By Lucy Hughes Jones
11 August 2017
