Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland

Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland was a three-part exhibition series capturing generations of cultural knowledge shaped by a profound relationship to Country.

In these vibrant and innovative works, emerging and established First Nations artists from across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait explored new materials and techniques, sharing what it means to belong.

Belonging series highlights

Belonging debuted at the National Museum of Australia from 7 July 2022 to 12 February 2023, featuring works by artists from Hope Vale, Yarrabah, Moa/Mua Island and Mornington Island.

Cropped image of a colourful painting. - click to view larger image — *Our Mother's and Grandmother's Country* by Amanda Jane Gabori and Dorothy Gabori

A red raku clay sculpture roughly in the shape of the torso and head of a human. It has coral for antlers and is painted mainly in shades of brown. The face is painted white with black borders around the eyes and nose. There are two leather cords protruding from the torso threaded on which are two wooden beads. Hanging from a leather cord around the neck are six round and two long wooden beads. - click to view larger image — *Hairy Man* by Philomena Yeatman and Valmai Pollard

Artwork featuring two photographs rendered and abstracted by a checkered pattern. - click to view larger image — *Goiga Pudhai* by Flora Warria

An acrylic painting on wood board. It depicts an army truck carrying children driving along a road near the top, and children playing among plants across the bottom. There is a white church in the top right hand corner, and a tree in the bottom right corner. Written in white across the top is 'I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING'. - click to view larger image — *I Didn't Know Where I Was Going* by Daisy Hamlot

Painting featuring organic shapes and a predominantly red, pink and orange palette. - click to view larger image — *Love Rocks* by Agnes Kohler

Digital artwork of a turtle swimming in a sea with the Southern Cross constellation above and cut and pasted photo of foliage in the foreground. - click to view larger image — *Saulalaw Thonar* by David Bosun

A red raku clay sculpture roughly shaped like the torso and head of a human. It is painted in browns and cream, and features a rounded stomach. Hanging from a metal thread around the neck are round wood beads, and through the nose is a gold ring with a green bead. Twigs or branches are used to represent the hair. - click to view larger image — *Hairy Man* by Wayne Connolly

An acrylic painting on wood board depicting a landscape of green trees and mountains. In the bottom right hand corner are seven human figures standing beside and in a river. Hanging from the trees behind the figures are various types of clothes. - click to view larger image — *Washing Clothes in the Creek* by Wanda Gibson

The second of the Belonging series, with works from Cardwell, Badu Island and Aurukun, was on show at the National Museum from 2 March to 18 February 2024.

- click to view larger image — *Christine Yorkson* by Matilda Malujewel Nona

Digital photo artwork of a black dog in the bush with with an overlay print with a pattern. - click to view larger image — *Jetta II* by Aiona Tala Gaidan

Painting of a black pig getting a back scratch from an orange rake - click to view larger image — *Black the Pig Getting a Back Scratch* by Deborah Murray

The third of the Belonging series featured works by artists from Mossman Gorge, Weipa, Mapoon, Napranum, Wujal Wujal and Pormpuraaw and was on show at the National Museum from 21 March 2024 to 10 March 2025.

Painting of rainforest parrots - click to view larger image — *Birrbirr (Rainforest Parrots)*, Lorna Shuan

Artist workshops

A series of workshops were held in the communities involved with Belonging. Art centres and artists nominated the type of workshop they wanted – ranging from advanced painting to ceramics and photography – and emerging and established artists were encouraged to take part.

More than 400 works were created by more than 100 artists. All works were acquired by the National Museum of Australia for its National Historical Collection.

Artists from four centres featured in the first Belonging exhibition:

A group of people by the edge of an inlet are taking photos of the surrounding landscape. - click to view larger image — Photography workshop on Moa/Mua Island

A woman is working on ceramic sculptures in a ceramics studio. - click to view larger image — Ceramics workshop at Yarrabah

Five people are painting together around long tables laden with canvases, and other other art materials. - click to view larger image — Workshop in the open-air studio at Hope Vale

A small group of women at easels painting on large canvases in an artist studio. - click to view larger image — Painting workshop at Kunhanhaa, also known as Mornington Island

Artists from three centres feature in the second Belonging exhibition. Learn more about each centre and the artists it represents:

A woman is painting a canvas in a room with textile artworks hanging behind her. - click to view larger image — Marina Pootchemunka, painting workshop, Aurukun

Three people hold cameras and practise their photography skills. - click to view larger image — Photography workshop, Badu Island

In the foreground is at table full of plastic pots of all different colours of paints and in the background, a group of people sit at a table painting artworks. - click to view larger image — Painting workshop in the open-air studio, Cardwell

Artists from four centres featured in the third Belonging exhibition. Learn more about each centre and the artists it represents:

Acknowledgements

The Belonging project was developed by the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA). The Belonging publication was generously supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation.

Read the Museum’s media release on Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland

Belonging publication

Endeavour Voyage

Mornington Island headdress

Torres Strait Islands

Join & support

Top