NIT on the remarkable life & work of Noli Rictor

Phoebe Blogg, The remarkable life and work of 2024 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Winner Noli Rictor, National Indigenous Times, 13 August 2024

Pitjantjatjara artist from Tjuntjuntjara in Western Australia, Noli Rictor, was recently honoured as the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards Winner.

Rictor won the prestigious 2024 Telstra Art Award valued at $100,000 for his synthetic polymer paint on linen piece titled Kamanti, a remarkable painting depicting the significant site of Kamanti, situated in the north of traditional Spinifex Lands.

The site is home to the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa (Two Men Creation Line), a narrative that follows the journey of a father and son water serpent across the Spinifex Lands on ceremonial business.

Rictor’s painting illustrates the Country he was born into, reflecting the deep spiritual and cultural heritage that has shaped his life. The dry but sacred environment of Kamanti, is brought to life through his use of colour and form, further capturing the power and presence of the ancestral figures who sculpted the landscape as they moved through it.

*Noli Rictor with his work Kamanti at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. (Image: Benjamin Warlngundu Ellis)*

Director of the Museum and Art Galley of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) Adam Worrall said the artwork is a testament to Rictor’s exceptional talent and deep connection to the Spinifex Lands.

“We are thrilled to celebrate Noli Rictor as the recipient of the Telstra Award. Noli’s work is a testament to his exceptional talent and deep connection to the Spinifex Lands. His depiction of the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa at Kamanti offers a powerful glimpse into his heritage, beautifully illustrating the Ancestral narratives that shape his Country and community,” he said.

Celebrated for his artistic talent and for his deep connection to his heritage. Rictor was possibly the youngest ‘first contact’ Aboriginal person in Australia. He and his family were located by relatives in 1986 in the remote Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia.

At the age of 21, Rictor transitioned from an isolated life in the desert, where he had lived with only his immediate family, to the settlement of Yakadunya, joining other Spinifex people who had relocated due to the British nuclear testing at Maralinga.

Although initially beginning his painting career in 2004 with the Kalka Community, Rictor took a hiatus before resuming his practice in 2016 in Tjuntjuntjara.

Now working in Tjuntjuntjara with the Spinifex Arts Project, he continues to create works that celebrates and preserves the rich cultural tapestry of his people.

*Kamanti displayed at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. (Image: Charlie Bliss)*

NATSIA judges Putuparri Tom Lawford, Keith Munro and Katina Davidson shared a joint statement about the 2024 Telstra Art Award-winning piece, and Rictor’s talented skills as an artist.

“Kamanti is an exceptional painting by a senior Elder of the community and an applauded artist. Noli Rictor’s deep knowledge of his Country is embedded in this truly majestic work,” they said.

“His expert use of colour and composition creates shimmering fields, carving the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa (Two Men Creation Line) into the layered landscape. At times the paint dances on the canvas’ surface; disrupting the eyes’ ability to focus, giving the work a truly mesmerising appeal from its painterly merits.

“The judges acknowledge the importance and significance of this work and note that the commanding scale is apt given the importance of the story presented. They are impressed by the composition of the artwork as both an expression of the artist’s command of painting and a visual representation of the artists’ vast knowledge of Spinifex Country and Law.”

Supported by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), 2024 marked the award’s 41st year in operation.

“This year’s selection is especially significant for the strong representation of emerging artists and the diverse range of talent from across Australia,” said Worrall.

“With 21 finalists falling under the emerging artist category, Telstra NATSIAA highlights the vitality and innovation of the next generation of Aboriginal artists and continues the legacy of exhibiting emerging artists alongside well-known names. The talent, strength of culture and new directions being explored by artists this year is astounding.”

Established by MAGNT in 1984 to recognise and promote appreciation and understanding of the quality and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art throughout Australia, the NATSIA awards have been a career changer for numerous winners throughout its 40 years.

The exhibition showcasing the Telstra NATSIAA finalists will run until the 27th January 2025.