Congratulations to Indigenous Multimedia student Luke Mallie*, creator of the Mackay Campus foyer mural, who has now gained the $5000 first prize in the 2009 National NAIDOC Poster competition**...

Luke's winning poster

The NAIDOC poster awards are a high profile outlet for Luke, who submitted his work as a water colour and acrylic painting on paper.

He hopes this recognition will lead to bigger and better things with his artistic career.

Luke is currently working on banner designs for the Mackay City Library.

"I will soon begin an art and design studio that will establish a national and international clientèle," he said.

"The studio will consist of graphic design and paintings with limited edition prints."

Luke said he also hoped to work on more public art projects, similar to his role with the Mackay Court House project.

* LINK for Profile of winning artist, Luke Mallie

Luke Mallie

** The National NAIDOC Poster Competition asked Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across Australia to submit an artwork reflecting the 2009 NAIDOC theme - Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth.

Luke's artwork, titled Carrying On Our Culture, was judged the winner by the National NAIDOC Committee from a record 140 entries. The competition carries a prize of $5000 and the honour of having the artwork used on the 2009 NAIDOC Week poster.

Luke said his artwork "represents the elders teaching and keeping watch over their young as they learn and grow into adults to then carry on the culture".

"The painting also depicts past elders who watch over everyone to protect and guide us through our lives. We all have the ability to connect to those spirits if we need guidance or inspiration."

National NAIDOC Committee co-chair, Anne Martin, said the committee had been struck by the "exuberance" of Luke's artwork and its depiction of respect by younger generations of Indigenous Australians for their elders.

"I congratulate Luke Mallie on winning the competition with his stunning piece of art. It really sums up the NAIDOC theme with the way it shows the transition of people from youth to adult to elder, along the way nurtured, educated and guided by our elders," Ms Martin said.  

Ms Martin said the committee had been pleased once again with the high standard of entries from all parts of the country, as well as the number of Indigenous children who had sent in artworks.

The 2009 NAIDOC Week poster, displaying Luke's winning artwork will be distributed across Australia over the coming weeks. To order free copies of the poster, please call 1800 050 009.

For more information on NAIDOC Week, and to see Luke Mallie's winning artwork, please visit www.naidoc.org.au