Artistic collaboration to work towards reconciliation

Works from an artistic collaboration between a non-Indigenous artist and Tiwi Islander artists will be on display at Casuarina campus from Friday, 10 April.

Charles Darwin University PhD candidate Stephen Anderson has collaborated on more than 40 artworks with 10 emerging and senior Tiwi Design artists as part of his PhD exhibition, “Walking and Working Together”.

The pieces were created using a range of media, including print, drawings, paintings, sculptures and silks.

Mr Anderson said he was fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with the artists due to his position as Tiwi Design coordinator, which he has held for the past five years.

“We have a good working relationship that’s been established over time,” he said.

Included in Mr Anderson’s collaborations are respected Tiwi artists Maria Josette Orsto and Bede Tungutalum.

“It has been a very personal journey and is our contribution to Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships moving forward,” Mr Anderson said.

“My research shows we can work together rather than going off in our own directions.”

Mr Anderson said the exhibition touched on themes of reciprocity and reconciliation, with personal stories about identity being woven through the works.

“A lot of the stories in the works are about working together,” he said.

The exhibition would offer alternative perspectives on the notion of collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Tiwi Design collaborating artists are expected to attend the opening of the exhibition on Friday, 10 April from 6pm at the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education Precinct Gallery Space and the Nan Giese Gallery at CDU Casuarina campus. The exhibition will run until 20 April.