First Nations singer Dan Sultan will headline the Tarnanthi opening weekend in October at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
August 16, 2023
Happening
Sultan to headline Tarnanthi return this October
The six-time ARIA Award winner is headlining the free public launch of the Tarnanthi festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art on October 19.
“I love playing in Adelaide and I always have a good time,” Dan says.
“You know festivals are wonderful, they’re just these huge melting pot celebrations of all different types of ways of experiencing the moment. I’m proud to be doing it.”
Dan says celebrations like Tarnanthi are important in giving representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Acknowledgment and representation is a powerful thing and I think there are people that are going to feel that acknowledgment for themselves in a personal way, as an individual, because of an event like this,” Dan says. “That makes me feel good.”
Dan’s self-titled, fifth studio album will be released on August 18, and follows a raw exploration of his fully-fledged self.
“This record feels like I was able to really reach an exciting new place for my work,” Dan says.
“I’m very proud of the work I’ve done in the past… I think it’s accomplished a lot.”
Dan’s most important quality as an artist is the ability to continue to grow, and he feels his self-titled album is a representation of this.
“You always want to be moving forward and growing, experiencing, but I think production is at a real incredible standard,” Dan says.
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“The making of it itself is completely fulfilling from an art standpoint.”
Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman and AFL presenter Shelley Ware will host the opening weekend in the Art Gallery of South Australia courtyard. She will be accompanied by cultural leader and respected contemporary artist of Western Arrernte, Yankunytjatjara, Pakistani and Afghan descent, Robert Fielding.
The statewide festival includes exhibitions at AGSA and at dozens of partner venues across Adelaide and around South Australia.
The popular Tarnanthi Art Fair, held online last year, returns as a physical event to provide a unique opportunity to meet First Nations artists, learn about their world and ideas, and buy works of art.
The full Tarnanthi 2023 program will be announced in mid-September. Head to AGSA’s website for more information about the festival.
Connect with Dan on Instagram for more information about his album release.
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