CAIRNS.- The inaugural recipient of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s (CIAF) Catapult professional development program, Badu Island artist Matilda Nona has elevated her art practice through a transformative two-week residency at NorthSite Print Studios in Gimuy/Cairns.

Under the guidance of collaborative printer Dian Darmansjah, Ms Nona merged traditional lino-printing techniques with her innovative ink-making method. This process involves gathering mangrove bark, orchids, and ochres from her Torres Strait homelands, then cooking, burning, and fermenting these materials to produce organic inks that vividly express her cultural narratives on paper.

This pivotal residency underscores the significance of CIAF’s Catapult professional development program in empowering First Nations artists to push creative boundaries while sharing their rich traditions with the world.

In February 2024, Ms Nona was named the inaugural primary recipient of Catapult, created and introduced by CIAF with funding and support from Arts Queensland and the Queensland Government.

Ms Nona, whose art practice observes maternal ceremonies using imagery drawn from land and sea, was thrilled to be announced as the first recipient of CIAF’s accelerator program.

"I've been practising art across many mediums for some time now, and I'm ready to explore more.

“Over the past year, I have been working with arts industry professionals, which is an opportunity I'm grateful for and is a wish for all remote and regional artists,” Ms Nona said.

According to Ms Nona, the two-week residency provided fertile ground for artistic exploration, culminating in a compelling new body of work. In April, a small selection will be showcased at NorthSite Contemporary Arts in Gimuy/Cairns. In July, a more extensive collection will be presented at CIAF as part of the Pay Attention! themed Art Fair exhibition at Tanks Arts Centre.

Under the guidance of NorthSite’s collaborative printer, Dian Darmansjah, Ms Nona has honed her traditional lino-printing skills while exploring inks made from natural materials sourced from her Torres Strait homeland. This unique approach fuses traditional techniques with contemporary experimentation, emphasising her deep connection to her culture.

This month, India Collins, CIAF’s Exhibitions and Development Manager, and Phil Schouteten from Phisch Creative visited Ms Nona on Badu Island to observe and document the artist’s creative process, especially her production of vibrant, organic inks that vividly convey the cultural narratives and stories that shape her work.

CIAF’s Artistic Director, Teho Ropeyarn, said Catapult is an essential addition to the organisation’s strategic programming and forms part of an ambitious four-year plan to enrich Queensland’s First Nations arts movement by providing much-needed support to the increasing number of talented, independent artists.

“Catapult is what its name implies, a platform for independent artists to leverage a range of opportunities,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

“Catapult is CIAF’s way of supporting these artists and ensuring their work does not go unnoticed, but rather, is shared with the world,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

Launched in November 2023, Catapult is an annual accelerator and showcase program for Queensland’s First Nations artists.

The program comprises two streams: professional development, of which Matilda Nona is the inaugural recipient, and a showcase program for independent artists to feature work in CIAF’s art fair exhibition.