Rosalind Noor’s oil painting, The Sovereign, has won this year’s Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize. Created in the aftermath of the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, the piece delves into themes of Indigenous sovereignty and post-coloniality.
Drawing inspiration from Farid al-Din Attar’s poem The Conference of the Birds, The Sovereign is rich with symbolic elements for the viewer to explore. Noor skillfully combines Australian flora and fauna with references to 15th-16th century Persian and Mughal miniature paintings, blending traditional influences with unique symbolism.
While deeply rooted in tradition, The Sovereign also holds a personal significance. Reflecting on the piece, Noor shared: “…I reflected on each of its meanings, and my own position within the broader picture.”
She added, “I, myself am a beneficiary of the 20th century assisted passage migration scheme as part of the white Australia policy. My grandparents used this scheme to migrate to Australia, and my mother was born here, and I have Australian citizenship through her. Whilst painting, I wondered whether I was in fact the British Robin, quietly exiting, or what I needed to do to use the unfair advantage that I’ve received to uplift others – especially the rightful owners of this land.”
The exhibition features 20 artworks across various mediums, including painting, photography, textiles, calligraphy, and mixed media. It brings together diverse artists to celebrate the rich culture of the Australian Muslim community, fostering a deeper connection between art, faith, and identity.
Islamic Museum of Australia Senior Curator, Dr Mahmoud Mohammed, describes the exhibition as “a celebration of artistic expression that transcends boundaries and challenges perceptions.”
Dr Stacey Farraway, La Trobe University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Future Growth), who announced Noor as the winner during the opening night event, emphasized the Art Prize’s role in promoting Islamic culture, stating, “Art can help foster cultural understanding and we’re proud to enable a dialogue that supports viewing art as a lens to gain insights into cultural aesthetics, values and traditions.”
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell highlighted the Islamic Museum of Australia’s role in promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural education, noting, “At a time of increasing polarisation in our society, institutions like the Islamic Museum of Australia play an important role in promoting cross-cultural understanding and support.”
He added, “Equity and diversity are core to La Trobe and our partnership with the Museum helps us in our mission to support people from all backgrounds, faiths and walks of life to study with us.”
The selection panel for the Australian Muslim Artists Prize included Dr Stefano Carboni, Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia; Dr Karen Annett, Director of La Trobe Art Institute; community representative Dr Anisa Buckley; and Dr Mahmoud Mohammed.
The Australian Muslim Artists exhibition will be open from 1 November 2024 to 1 March 2025 at the Islamic Museum of Australia. As an acquisitive prize, The Sovereign will join the La Trobe University Art Collection, which is known for its significant postwar and contemporary works by notable Australian artists from the past sixty years.
