Where to get your fix of culture in Darwin, Australia, with its murals and indigenous art

Exploring murals in the Australian city of Darwin is an enlightening experience, especially when you have artist David Collins as a guide. Collins is director of the Darwin Street Art Festival (DSAF), an annual event whose legacy can be seen in 130 large-scale works dotted around the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory. Just do not ask him to pick a favourite. “That is difficult,” Collins says. “It’s like asking a parent to choose their favourite child.” Since its inception in 2017, DSAF has turned dirty and dull surfaces around Darwin into magnificent works of art. “This here was derelict before the murals arrived,” says Collins, pointing to a laneway 370 metres (1,200ft) long that is now adorned with 21 murals. “It was a nothing lane that was used as a loading zone.” It is a perfect example of the transformative power of art: when murals appeared, businesses from bars and restaurants to arts and events spaces sprouted. With a population of just 140,000, Darwin draws tourists keen to explore the surrounding area’s natural wonders and vast wildlife parks. One of its best-kept secrets is the Litchfield National Park, about an hour’s drive south of Darwin, where visitors can enjoy nature-filled hikes and crystal-clear waterfalls. The Territory Wildlife Park – covering 400 hectares (990 acres) – is about 45 minutes’ drive from the city and is a draw for animal-lovers. It houses everything from wallabies and echidnas to saltwater crocodiles, the largest living reptiles – males can grow up to six metres in length. With an impressive number of art galleries and museums, Darwin is also attracting visitors seeking a culture fix. The street art festival, which this year takes place from May 24 to June 15, is one of the main drawcards; the event not only boosts tourism but makes art more accessible, Collins says. “I grew up here and know people from all walks of life, from homeless people to politicians, and what I love is that everyone has ownership of the murals,” he says. The best way to appreciate the murals is to download the DSAF app, which provides insights into artists and their works. Some murals can be brought to life with augmented reality. Many of the murals carry indigenous themes and designs. One of the most eye-catching is The Multi Dimensional Man, a portrait of Hilton Garnarradj, an indigenous guide working in the nearby Kakadu National Park. It was completed in 2018 by Melbourne-based artist Peter Seaton. A seven-storey mural of Shaniqua, a transgender woman from the Tiwi Islands off the northern coast of Australia, painted by Melbourne-based artist Kaff-eine, also celebrates the country’s indigenous community. One of the most poignant works is a large-scale portrait of Gurrumul Yunupingu, better known as Gurrumul, a musician from the region who was born blind and became the bestselling Australian indigenous musician in history. He died in 2017 aged 46. The mural, created by artists Andrew Bourke and Jesse Bell, features the lyrics of Gurrumul’s hit song Baru (The Saltwater Crocodile). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (@darwinartfair) It is not just indigenous icons who are celebrated in the city. Indigenous art in general is a big part of life in the Northern Territory, which is not surprising considering around a third of the population are indigenous, the highest proportion among all Australian states and territories. Australian indigenous art is the oldest art form in the world – archaeologists have dated relics to as far back as 60,000 years ago. It is richly diverse, from intricate sand and body paintings in desert regions, to bark paintings and rock art. It also includes dot painting, carvings, sculptures, weaving and string art. Despite the variety, Australian indigenous art shares a common theme of communicating ancestral ties and a deep connection to the land. With no written language, communication was historically passed down through song and art, such as drawings and paintings, and the use of ceremonial design. One of the best places to learn about indigenous art is the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, which this year takes place from August 7-10. It is a crucial platform connecting indigenous communities with galleries and collectors that allows people to ethically purchase art directly from more than 70 indigenous-owned art centres. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museum & Art Gallery of the NT (@mag_nt) Indigenous art is also celebrated at Darwin’s Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (Magnt). The space houses 7,000 works which span decades and regions and underscore the rich cultural heritage of indigenous art and the importance of the transfer of knowledge down the generations. Rebekah Raymond, Magnt’s curator of Aboriginal Art and Material Culture, shows some of the museum’s more treasured pieces. “The oldest bark painting in the collection dates back to the 1930s, so it’s almost 100 years old,” she says. The Unesco World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, a couple of hours’ drive from Darwin, is also home to a handful of galleries showcasing indigenous art from across the region. Among them is the Marrawuddi Art Gallery, which connects 500 artists across disciplines from painting, screen-printing and weaving to photography and sculpture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marrawuddi Arts and Culture (@marrawuddiarts) One of Australia’s biggest national parks, Kakadu is also the place to see authentic ancient rock art that was crucial to human existence. Like an ancient version of Reddit, the rocks were places for people to share vital information, from details about clan conflicts to drawings of animals and plants that might be dangerous to eat. Rock drawings also revealed where life-saving water sources could be found. Victor Cooper, owner of Ayal Aboriginal Tours, hosts tours of ancient rock sites including the 1.5km (1-mile) Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art walk in Kakadu National Park. “This rock art site has served as a shelter and canvas for thousands of years. The paintings provide a glimpse into spiritual traditions and stories … Rock art is like a photo captured in time,” he says.

Where to get your fix of culture in Darwin, Australia, with its murals and indigenous art

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}With its street art, displays of indigenous painting, and prehistoric rock paintings nearby, Darwin is a hub of cultures ancient and modern

With its street art, displays of indigenous painting, and prehistoric rock paintings nearby, Darwin is a hub of cultures ancient and modern