Artwork riffing on Renaissance painting and George Orwell wins $100k

Ryan Presley, a Marri Ngarr artist from Alice Springs with Scandinavian heritage, claimed the top honor of $100,000 at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs). His winning piece, "Our lifestyle of tranquillity undisturbed," is an oil painting measuring 1.8 by 1.5 metres. The artwork pays homage to Renaissance art, featuring an Indigenous man reclining between his dog and a hunting rifle.

The painting also references a quote from George Orwell's 1984: "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."

Presley described the award as both daunting and a great honour, acknowledging the significance of his work as he continues to develop his artistic career. As a three-time NATSIAA finalist, Presley draws inspiration from various First Nations artists and his own upbringing in Alice Springs and Brisbane. He aims to reflect the importance of sacred spaces and chamber architecture in his art, while also addressing contemporary issues such as the alarming rates of young Indigenous people being jailed in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The art award judges praised Presley's multi-layered iconography and the precision of his technique. His use of chiaroscuro, a technique involving strong contrasts between light and shade, was also noted as a standout feature of the work. Presley's art reinterprets classic Renaissance paintings while incorporating contemporary elements like a looming bushfire, tying together the rich history of Aboriginal art with the vibrant contemporary scene.