Tarnanthi: honouring shared knowledge from generations of women

Tarnanthi, an annual celebration of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, features artwork from 87 artists in its 2020 exhibition Tarnanthi: Open Hands. The creativity First Nations' women use to share knowledge across generations is recognised in this year's Tarnanthi, with recognition of the deep connections made to Country and culture through the art making process. "Open Hands celebrates the ongoing and often unseen work that women in communities do to maintain culture," said artistic director and Barkandji artist Nici Cumpston, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the museums and galleries sector and to Indigenous art in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours. "Keeping these stories alive and sharing knowledge is deeply embedded within everyday life across Australia." Like many events this year, Tarnanthi has had to meet the challenges of uncertainty and closed borders head on. The annual Tarnanthi Art Fair has been specially designed as a "COVID-safe" event this year, meaning there'll be limited opportunities to sift through canvases on tables as over the previous five years. The Fair will still be held from 4-6 December, displaying artwork for sale that has been hand selected by community art centres. "Creating art is a vital source of income that supports economic empowerment and cultural resilience in remote communities," said Art Gallery of South Australia Director Rhana Devenport ONZM. "Through Tarnanthi Art Fair, buyers are guaranteed that every dollar from sales goes directly back to artists and their communities." Tarnanthi is also going international this year, in collaboration with the APY Art Centre Collective; new work from 34 APY Lands artists will be exhibited at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Renes, in Brittany, France, occupying an entire floor.