Art / “Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland”. At the National Museum until  February 12. Reviewed by BARRINA SOUTH

“BELONGING: Stories from Far North Queensland” is an exhibition featuring art works from the extensive collection recently acquired by the National Museum. The artworks, on display for the first time, bring a fresh perspective to First Nations art.

First impressions of the exhibition “Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland” is the artists from this part of the country are doing things differently. Walking through the exhibition there is a freshness, a vitality.

First on show, in a three-part series, are 120 works by 29 artists from Hope Vale, Yarrabah, Moa Island and Mornington Island.

The exhibition has been made possible due to the arts centres in the region bringing artists together and offering the opportunity to experiment and explore their creativity as part of the “Belonging” project.

Encouraging the artists to take up new materials and tools has both re-energised the art production in the region and developed new styles.

This is most evident in the works by the Moa Island artists, who are now experimenting with film and photography to document island life. The use of these mediums allows the museum visitor an insight into the day-to-day life on the island and what is important to the community.

For me, the most intriguing pieces are by the Yarrabah artists made from ceramic and collected driftwood and debris. The pieces represent the esoteric beings you need to wary of, they are always watching. Maybe that is why they caught my attention.

If you are new to art from this part of Australia, this exhibition is a great place to start.