6 March 2023
Christine Ng has won the Portrait of a Senior Territorian People's Choice award for her painting of an Aboriginal matriarch whose quest is to preserve the endangered Central Australian Pertame language.
Christobel Perrurla Swan - "Atha Ngketya Nweka Ilkerta Tnyenema": I am keeping my language strong was the clear favourite amongst members of the public who were able to cast their vote online and at the Araluen Arts Centre, where the 2022 portrait prize was exhibited.
The Alice Springs artist receives $1000 prize money for her acrylic-on-linen work and plans to donate part of her winnings to the Pertame School - a community-led language revival project.
The announcement completes the 2022 Portrait of a Senior Territorian exhibition which was won by Montana Kitching for her oil painting, Vicki of Jacana.
Second prize was awarded to Jose Victor Patalinghug for Unfolding Resilience, and third prize was won by Papunya artist Wilfred Thomas Tjampitjinpa for Amami.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech:
"The Portrait of a Senior Territorian is a long-running art prize that supports our visual storytellers and celebrates seniors across the NT.
"Christine's work is a powerful representation of a strong woman, determined to revive knowledge of her ancient culture, and to ensure future generations know how to speak Pertame, one of the Southern Arrernte languages.
"This win will help to draw attention to Christobel's mission to teach the voice of her land to younger generations, for the sake of history and the future."
Photo: Christine Ng's 'Christobel Perrurla Swan - "Atha Ngketya Nweka Ilkerta Tnyenema": I am keeping my language strong' has won the Portrait of a Senior Territorian People's Choice award.
