Now in its 13th year, the Freshwater Saltwater exhibition brings together 35 works by 15 Queensland artists from rainforest, island, gulf and western communities.
Featuring painting, weaving, textiles and mixed media, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of First Nations artistic practice while providing a platform for artists to express their identities, histories and cultural knowledge.
Opening ahead of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Freshwater Saltwater has become a significant event on the region's cultural calendar, showcasing both established and emerging artists from across Far North Queensland.
UMI Arts Executive Director Erick Kasukulo said every work selected for the exhibition represents years of dedication, experience and cultural storytelling.
"You see the hard work of time, you see the experience in the artwork and just the diversity in the work, from cultural to contemporary," he said.
"It's very highly curated. The selection criteria are very high because this exhibition showcases some of the strongest work coming from our artists."
Mr Kasukulo said the exhibition not only celebrated artistic excellence but also highlighted the connection between generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
"It's connecting with upcoming artists, it's connecting with contemporary artists as well, and seeing the value of bringing back those stories," he said.
"You're starting to see more and more artists expressing the connection with Elders and grandparents and keeping those stories alive."
He said the exhibition's name reflects the coming together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
"It's a celebration of both cultures. Freshwater represents Aboriginal people, and saltwater represents Torres Strait Islander people. That's where the name comes from."
Mr Kasukulo said art often allows people to tell stories they cannot easily express in conversation.
"When you work with artists there are scenarios where they might struggle to express themselves, but many of them are happy to share their stories, their culture and their background through their artwork," he said.
"We're very lucky to be the ones who provide that platform."
Among the exhibiting artists is Kassandra Savage, whose work draws on family history and her deep connection to both freshwater and saltwater Country.
Ms Savage said her latest pieces were inspired by her great grandmother Maude and discovering her totem.
"Through my art I'm trying to represent some of my experiences and connect back to family experiences and some of the stories we've lived," she said.
"My inspiration comes from my connection to my grandfather's mother, my great grandmother Maude. I learned a few years ago that her totem was the brolga and that's where that inspiration comes from."
She said the work also reflects the meeting of her Waanji freshwater connections and her family ties to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
"I originally just thought about being freshwater with the Waanji connection, but the Kurtijar connection also has a connection to the saltwater through the Gulf of Carpentaria."
Beyond sharing her own story, Ms Savage hopes visitors leave the exhibition with a renewed appreciation for the natural world.
"I hope they feel inspired by the nature that's around us because sometimes in this busy world we live in, just sitting and looking at freshwater lily pads, flowers growing or the animals around us can melt away some of the everyday problems we get bogged down with," she said.
"I hope people feel some of that when they look at my artwork."
Fellow artist Tommy Pau said one of the strengths of Freshwater Saltwater is the opportunity for artists to watch each other's practice evolve over time.
"It's good to see the new people coming through, and the ones that you exhibit with all the time.
"You see the difference in the development in the artwork as well and they see my development, so it's good.
"We always try and push new techniques, mediums, even styles. You don't know, you could maybe create a new style. It's possible."
He says every viewer will take something different away, but hopes his work resonates.
"Not everybody's going to feel the same thing, but if I can touch one person then I think I've done my job."
