At just 17 years old, Northern Peninsula Area State College student Jacynta Ahwang has dominated the student art award scene with her digital creations. Photo: Supplied.
From winning a school shirt design contest to being recognised as one of the top young First Nations digital artists in Queensland, Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) State College’s Jacynta Ahwang is shining in the art award space.
Ms Ahwang was announced as a winner of the QATSIF (Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation) Creative Arts Competition in the Year 12 digital graphics category late last month after just two years of exploring the world of digital art.
“It inspires me [to keep improving], and it also inspires my family and my younger siblings to do art as well,” the 17-year-old said.
Although her most recent achievement was in the digital art space, Ms Ahwang said she enjoyed a multitude of disciplines, including drawing, fabrics, and creating her own characters, but her desire to connect to culture through art remained constant.
“My mum’s side is the Islands, and my dad’s side is the NPA, and I mostly work with my dad’s side, because that’s where I stay,” she said.
“I take inspiration from cultural stuff; also from family, and the land and sea.”
Ms Ahwang’s art teacher, Kristy Smythe, said winning the NPA State College 50th anniversary shirt design contest in 2023 opened up the world of digital creativity for the young artist.
“Jacynta won an iPad, and that sort of opened up this whole digital world for her in terms of being able to create designs that she can then put onto dresses and create characters,” she said.
“From an art teacher perspective, it’s so exciting to see that ability for the students to take their foundation and do something new.
“Jacynta talks a lot about her family and Country, so she’s able to take those traditional patterns and those traditional stories, and put them into a new way of telling stories.”
Ms Ahwang also won the 17-25 years category of the Children’s Rights Queensland and Queensland Family and Child Commission Art Competition last month, placed second in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aspirations Program state finals earlier this year, and was recently selected for Design Tracks – Creative Pathways, a three-day art program in Brisbane facilitated by the Gallery of Modern Art.
“I think Jacynta has really flourished in terms of her ability to communicate the message about her art, and also be able to put it out there,” Ms Smythe said.
“I think, sometimes, it’s a little bit intimidating for young artists in the NPA to spread that message and have that voice, so I’ve seen that grow.
“Living in a remote locality, it’s also been important for us to talk about what opportunities exist in terms of commercial outlets, and how she can use her art to create a business, or those sorts of things down the line.”
