Pilbara talent on show at Colours of our Country exhibition for 19th consecutive year

An event featuring Aboriginal artists from across the Pilbara gives art lovers the opportunity to connect and learn the stories that inspire the creatives’ work. Showcasing a vibrant collection of 160 Aboriginal artworks crafted by 43 artists, Colours of our Country opened on Monday at the Central Park building in Perth. This year’s line-up features independent artists and art centres across the Pilbara, including the Yinjaa-Barni Art, Cheeditha Art Group and Juluwarlu Art Group. The exhibition’s signature art piece, Our Country (The Pilbara) by Yinjaa-Barni Art centre artist Justina Willis was inspired by the ancestral stories of the artist’s Ngurra (country). “Pilbara is the country where we, the Yindjibarndi people, live and share many of our cultural stories and history that have been passed onto us by our ancestors,” Willis said. “Our country has so much to offer. Bush foods and medicine, as well as animals like emu, kangaroo and goanna. Our country is full of riches, and we are connected to our land.” Since the exhibition launched in 2006, more than 2987 artworks have been sold, generating almost $3.3 million for local artists, their art groups and communities. “Over the course of 19 years, we have had the privilege of partnering with Indigenous artists who generously share their rich heritage and artistry through Colours of our Country,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said. “Their works of art offer their reflections of country and invite us to recognise and appreciate the cultural, spiritual and physical connections that Indigenous people have with the Pilbara region.” Colours of our Country concludes on Friday, September 27. For those unable to attend in person, the complete art catalogue is available for purchase at coloursofourcountry.com.