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NAIDOC 2024 ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ – online exhibition

NAIDOC 2024 - ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ is a community exhibition at Hawthorn Arts Centre by Swinburne University of Technology Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Presented in partnership with Moondani Toombadool Centre and Swinburne Student Life, this exhibition showcases works from the Swinburne 2024 annual NAIDOC Design Competition. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student artists from Swinburne University created works responding to this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’, honouring the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture. Observed each year in the first week of July, NAIDOC week is a national celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Image credit: Chelsea Maher, detail from ‘Sandhills Sovereignty: Wiradjuri Strength’, 2024, digital image, dimensions variable. Image courtesy of the artist. 

abstract painting comprised of varied green, blue, red, orange, brown and white dots. The pattern resembles an aerial view of a river
1. Katie Bugden, 'Keep the Fire Burning', 2024, acrylic on canvas, 45 x 95 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
‘This year’s NAIDOC theme demands we continue the fight for voice and autonomy in this country. The main motif in the artwork represents the community voice and many peoples’ desires for change in this country. The background is a burn off following the river and cleansing country.’
image of circular painting of a dark red tree surrounded by three black figures outlined in gold paint on a black background
2. Isabeau Colls, 'Ignite the Spark', 2024, acrylic on wooden board, 50 cm diameter, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. Our ability to love and share our stories is what keeps the culture alive. We as a collective are the spark that keeps the fire burning. The gratitude I felt participating in this year’s Indigenous Nationals is indescribable, I was connected to mob in a way I have never experienced before, and I am deeply grateful for that. Only in community can we keep that spark ignited. Share your stories, music, dances and everything in between to keep the spark alive!’
image of abstract painting with rounded shapes in various hues of red, pink, purple and yellow on an orange-red background. The composition resembles a hilly landscape against a red sky.
3. Coby Donnellan, 'The Desert', 2024, mixed media (acrylic, oil, glue) on canvas, 122 x 180 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
'"The Desert" is a visual journey through the diverse Australian landscape, spanning from bush to reef, completed over six months. Rooted in my heritage and a deep connection to our land, this piece reflects the balance between life and nature. Through it, I aim to inspire a sense of pride and a call to protect, preserve, and nurture the environment, honouring the beauty and significance of our home.'
image of painting featuring a flowering tree, large bush and pelican beside a river
4. Annette Edwards, 'Ngarrindjeri Nori connection to land and water', 2024, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 20 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
‘The painting represents the connection to land and water. It includes the fire as a focus point for the NAIDOC theme “keep the home fires burning”. The water includes a Murray Cod, which is in the story of how the river Murray was formed in Ngarrindjeri stories. It includes how the fish and eucalyptus tree, the leaves and fire are all connected. The Nori (pelican) is a totem of the area my great grandma was from in the Murray Lands. The top of the painting has symbol of man and woman.’
drawing of man playing a trumpet. Shapes emerge from the trumpet accompanying with the words 'keep the fire burning' and 'black, loud & proud' as well as outlines of hands in various shades of red pencil
5. Alissa Jones, 'Len', 2024, pencil and charcoal on paper, 29.7 x 42 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
‘I am a proud Gadigal woman of the Eora nation and amateur artist drawing from life and Country around me. I believe art can heal, inspire and unify, embracing past and present, and those were my goals in creating this piece.’

digital image of two hands reaching out to each other in a circle made of arches and dots in different shades of brown. 'Keep the Fire burning, blak loud and proud!' is written in white text across the top.
6. Chelsea Maher, 'Sandhills Sovereignty: Wiradjuri Strength', 2024, digital print, 101.6 x 50.8 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Statement:
‘This artwork embodies the 2024 NAIDOC theme, “Keep the Fire Burning, Blak, Loud and Proud!”. The hands in the centre symbolise unity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, representing our unbroken strength. The sandy hills below signify the lands we are deeply connected to – lands that nurture and sustain us. Fiery smoke rises from the earth, embracing our people as a symbol of our resilience and enduring spirit. Together, we keep the fire burning, standing tall and empowered by our communities. We celebrate our identity, proud to be Blak, loud and strong.’