Nyul Nyul man Lowell Hunter receives 2022 NAIDOC gong for best creative talent

Nyul Nyul man Lowell Hunter had just finished teaching a cultural awareness session in Geelong when he found himself by the ocean, creating the first of many sand artworks. Mr Hunter, known as Salty One, is the co-founder of an Aboriginal consultancy business aimed at working with organisations on “cultural safety” — being respectful and sensitive when working with Aboriginal communities. As a saltwater man raised on the Dampier Peninsula, the ocean is where Mr Hunter feels at home and can most easily connect with his home country. One day after teaching, he walked onto the sand at Bell’s Beach in Victoria to reflect on his own understanding of culture, and began drawing circles and U shapes — symbols which he says represents his ancestors and old people. “I sat myself in that circle and thought, ‘yeah, this is cultural safety’,” he said. “There was no fear or judgement. I could just be myself and I felt really proud to be who I was at that particular point.” This method of connecting with country and culture paved the way for Mr Hunter’s artistic evolution. Two-and-a-half years after he first marked the sand in Geelong, Mr Hunter has been awarded the 2022 NAIDOC Creative Talent Award for his expansive repertoire of cultural storytelling through the medium of sand art. While working on the other side of Australia, he credits the foundation of his artistic practice to his youth in the Kimberley. “Along the Dampier Peninsula, Beagle Bay, One Arm Point and, obviously, Broome — I remember life revolved around country and the ocean,” he said. “I’d often be out fishing and hunting or playing as a young fella with my family. Those were my very first memories of having a special connection to place and having a sense of belonging. I think that’s stuck with me all my life.” His artwork is multi-faceted, integrating mark making and cultural dance as he moves across the sand leaving marks in his wake. The final product is captured for posterity with drone photography. With so many talented fellow nominees, he admits he never expected to win the award. “You know, when you’re looking at it on a national scale, there’s so many talented artists, creatives, dancers, poets, musicians — people that are really doing some incredible things across the country — and to be up against that amount of talent is something I probably won’t be able to comprehend for a little while yet.” The awards were held as part of this year’s national NAIDOC Week celebrations, the theme of which is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! For Mr Hunter, this year’s theme is about owning your identity and heritage. “Throughout my life, I’ve been subjected to racism on various levels — through schooling, through employment, playing footy,” he said. “‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ is a reminder, just to be proud of we are and what we have to offer.” The artist is now planning on travelling back to his home country on the Dampier Peninsula, where he will share his artistic practice with his community and establish a deeper connection with culture and country. “I hope to be back up there in the next couple of months to get creative. I’m yarning with family in Beagle Bay to coordinate some workshops with young people in the community and share what I’ve been doing with my own mob on country.” It is there that he hopes to create his “most special” artwork to date.