From 10-13 July, the Epenarra Artists from the Indigenous community of Wutunugurra in the Northern Territory held their first Melbourne exhibition at the Mossgreen Gallery in South Yarra.

The artists named their exhibition “The Hills Have Eyes”, as each piece either incorporates the hills that surround the community or represents them abstractly.

The exhibition included work from five sisters who are elders in the community. They have a special role in supporting the younger artists, ensuring they adhere to cultural protocols.

Unlike many Indigenous art groups, the Epenarra Artists decided not to paint their dreaming stories. World Vision project officer Liz Mullen explains: “as a result the exhibition shows the importance of the land and their strong connection to it without compromising on their strongly held beliefs about the sacredness of their dreaming stories.”

This Melbourne showcase, proudly supported by the Stonnington City Council, follows two successful exhibitions in 2009 in Brisbane and World Vision’s Birrung Gallery in Sydney. “The artworks are incredibly beautiful and each artist has their own unique style,” Liz adds.

Exhibitions are a critical component of World Vision’s Indigenous Arts Project being implemented in remote communities in the Northern Territory. They help to promote the individual achievements of the artists and the group as a whole, and also provide professional development opportunities.

Unlike other Indigenous art centres, the Epenarra Artists are involved in the entire exhibition process, from ordering and paying for art supplies, to telling the story of their art on opening night. Money from art sales goes directly to the artists and is used to cover the group’s running costs.

"Through exhibitions, artists and art workers gain a valuable insight into aspects of the art industry, which from the remote communities they come from often seem out of reach,” says Liz. She added that it has been exciting to watch group members grow in experience and confidence, both in their art and the direction they want to take it.

Group members decide who will travel and represent the artists at exhibition openings. Although travelling to a major city on a plane for the first time can be an extremely daunting experience, the “artists have been abuzz with enthusiasm and motivation when they return; inspiring their peers to expand their ideas and instigate changes that will benefit the group as a whole”.

To learn more about The Epenarra Artists click here