Adnyamathanha, Narungga and Yarluyandi artist Temaana Sanderson-Bromley was announced the winner of the $5,000 Don Dunstan Foundation OUR MOB Emerging Artist Prize during the 2022 OUR MOB awards ceremony at Adelaide Festival Centre last night.
At 18 years old, Sanderson-Bromley is the youngest person to ever win the Emerging Artist Prize and impressed the judges with his multiple artworks including hand painted ceramics, acrylic on wood sculptures and giclee print on archival cotton rag paper.
The artworks were inspired by his Country, the Flinders Ranges, and represents the diverse landscapes and colours. He creatively references different Dreaming stories such as the Yurlu (Kingfisher man) story that details how Wilpena Pound and Flinders Rangers were created.
Temaana Sanderson-Bromley, says winning this award will allow him to further develop his businesses Mardlaapa Designs and Malka Wiri Wiri Art Collective, “This is such an amazing opportunity to be recognised for the diversity of my art. I really enjoy art and exploring a range of different mediums which I can use to celebrate my culture and share stories.
“I’m feeling really proud and grateful to receive this award. It’s still sinking in.”
The Trevor Nickolls Art Prizes returned for the second year after being established in 2021 through Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation. The prizes honour the generosity of artist Trevor Nickolls whose intention after his death was to provide support to Aboriginal artists.
The Trevor Nickolls Art Prize for OUR MOB winner is Gudjula and Girramay artist Kat Bell, and the OUR YOUNG MOB winner is 17-year-old artist Macinta Fowler.
Other prizes awarded on the night of Thursday August 18 include: the Country Arts SA Professional Development Initiative Award, won by Yamatji Wajarri artist Sherrie Jones; and the Ku Arts OUR YOUNG MOB award, won by Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay) 17-year-old artist Zachary O’Donnell.
The 2022 OUR MOB exhibition will be on display to the public at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Festival Theatre Galleries from August 19 to October 7 and the OUR YOUNG MOB exhibition at Children’s Artspace until October 9.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “OUR MOB is one of our most important and anticipated annual programs at Adelaide Festival Centre. This art exhibition brings artists, industry partners and art organisations from all over the state together to celebrate great artwork and community.
“We congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to celebrating their success for years to come. I encourage people to visit the exhibition and enjoy these stunning artworks by South Australian First Nations artists.”
OUR MOB 2022 features four main components: OUR MOB: Art by South Australian Aboriginal Artists, OUR YOUNG MOB: Art by Aboriginal Artists 18 years and under, Trevor Nickolls OUR MOB Award supported by Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation solo exhibition by award recipient, Kokotha artist Maude Parker and the Don Dunstan Foundation Prize solo exhibition, created by 2021’s Emerging Artist Award recipient, Kaurna and Narungga artist Jay Milera.
Since its inception in 2006, Adelaide Festival Centre’s OUR MOB has showcased the quality and diversity of art by South Australian First Nations artists, boosting the careers of many artists, and generating direct-to-artist sales to support their art practices.
Adelaide Festival Centre gratefully acknowledges ongoing partnerships with Ku Arts; SICAD; Country Arts SA; The Don Dunstan Foundation; TARNANTHI: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art; and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture centre managers and coordinators across South Australia.
Some of the OUR WORDS talks will feature on Adelaide Festival Centre’s podcast From the Wings later this year.