NT Artist Julia Mayman has been named the winner of the People’s Choice Award for her painting titled Proud Land as part of the 2018 Portrait of a Senior Territorian.
Proud Land prominently features Central Australian elder Daphne Puntjina, who was born at Areyonga Creek in 1944.
Daphne gained international fame as a participant in the Central Australian Women’s Choir, travelling to Germany and America to perform and star in the documentary The Song Keepers.
Around her community, Daphne is a leader in many areas and has worked in the church and council.
Department of Tourism and Culture, director of Arts NT, Angela Hill, congratulated Ms Mayman on winning the People’s Choice Award and said this year’s theme celebrated 40 years of self-government in the Territory.
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“The Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award recognises outstanding Northern Territory artists and celebrates the significant achievements and contributions by senior Territorians to our community.
“Ms Mayman’s portrait of Daphne has wonderfully captured the spirit of the Territory,” Ms Hill said.
“More than 1300 people voted for their favourite artwork in the People’s Choice Awards, with Ms Mayman receiving a resounding win.
“For the first time, an online voting system enabled audiences from all over the NT to vote in the People’s Choice Award, with 977 people voting online.”
The artist, Julia Mayman, has been living and working in the remote NT community of Areyonga for two years. She was trained in Arts at Flinders University, and has been teaching art in remote schools for four years.
The Portrait of a Senior Territorian 2018 featured 24 portraits by artists from across the Territory. The exhibition was displayed at Parliament House over a week, and more than 800 visitors viewed the works.
Katherine artist Carol Randall’s portrait of celebrated elder Nelly Camfoo was also shown as part of the prestigious exhibition in Darwin.
The week-long Portrait of a Senior Territorian exhibition closed on Friday, however the winning entry by Al Strangways, can still be seen at the Northern Territory Library for the next fortnight.
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