Keith’s big

By MATT NICHOLLS

LEGENDARY Cape York artist

Keith Wikmunea has cemented his legacy as one of the nation’s most prolific sculptors after he won the Telstra Art Award on Friday night.

The proud Thu’ Apalech man, who works out of the Wik and Kugu Aurukun Art Centre, wowed judges with his masterpiece called Ku’, Theewith & Kalampang: The White Cockatoo, Galah and the Wandering Dog

“The sculpture is my totem. The white cockatoo is my main totem, and the galah is my mother’s main totem,” Keith said.

“The colours on this tree are specific to my clan, the Thu’ Apalech people.

“In Wik-Mungkan, my first spoken language, we call this tree ‘yuk thanchal’.

“This tree is also known as milkwood in English and is the same tree that my ancestors have been using since the beginning of time to create their artefacts.”

Keith said it took two months to complete the towering sculpture.

“Chip away at it day by day. It takes a long time,” he said.

When asked what he would do with the $100,000 prize money for taking out the top billing at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Keith said: “I’m going to buy myself a boat.

“Winning this award has made me feel really good and my partner and my family are really proud of me. When I told my kids the news they were really happy and that made me feel good inside.”

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