Artistic Collaboration | Yamaha Motor Australia x Jade Akamarre
The amazing personal story behind Jade Akamarre’s spiritual and artistic journey, as well as the fruits of the partnership with Yamaha Motor Australia, will be featured in Travelling Between Worlds the seventh episode in the #UnitedByYamaha brand campaign short film series, scheduled for release in July.
Many may know Jade by her legal name Torres, however in the art world Jade is known by her skin name, Akamarre. “This is a cultural name given to me at birth in our Aboriginal kinship system,” explains Jade. “In our world, a skin name is more than just an ID; it’s a connection to my roots and family. Think of it as a combination of my parents’ skin names or sometimes given by the community – a bit like a family lineage name.”
A proud member of the Alyawarre/Anmatyerre people, Jade’s community is Atnwengerrp which is in the Utopia region of the Northern Territory, 270kms north-east of Alice Springs, and her artistic drive and inspiration are deep seeded in a long family history of artists. Her grandmother the late Barbara Weir and great-grandmother the late Minnie Pwerle, are both internationally recognised artists, as is her father, Fred Torres, who established Australia’s first Aboriginal-owned art gallery, DACOU (Dreaming Art Centre Of Utopia), in 1993.
Now based in Adelaide, but with a well-worn track back to the Utopia region, Jade has called on family influences to carve out her own unique style of contemporary Indigenous artwork that reflects her own dreamtime story and heritage.
While Jade’s spiritual connection to the land and ocean is conveyed through her artwork, her physical connection to the water is celebrated while riding her Yamaha GP1800 SVHO WaveRunner. It was through the freedom and connection with the environment that her WaveRunner delivers that led Jade to seek a collaboration with Yamaha Motor Australia to combine her Dreamtime story with Yamaha’s technology. The result is a Yamaha GP19HO WaveRunner wrapped in a stunning artwork created during the filming of Travelling Between Worlds.
Exclusively commissioned by Yamaha Motor Australia the artwork is a fusion of Jade’s culture and dreaming with the power, heritage and innovation of Yamaha Motor, and the unmistakable ochre colours of outback Australia. The partnership also underscores Yamaha’s support for First Nations people and their rich cultural heritage.
“One of the questions I most get asked is, what is a dreaming?” Jade explains. “Dreaming is something that Aboriginal people, like my family, hold close to their hearts. These are sacred narratives, passed down through generations, revealing vital knowledge, cultural values, and traditions. We share these stories through ceremonial body painting, storytelling, as well as song and dance.”
Jade Akamarre’s passion for her art and for her Yamaha WaveRunner is revealed in Travelling Between Worlds. The story aligns with Yamaha Motor’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) Gender Equality, and Reduced Inequalities as well as Rethinking Solutions, which is a component of Yamaha Motor’s Long-Term Vision, ART for Human Possibilities.
Travelling Between Worlds highlights Jade’s dedication to her art, culture, and the environment, as well as her mission to support her community and find solutions to reduce inequalities affecting her family. The film is set to be released in July via the #UnitedByYamaha webpage.
If you wish to join the Yamaha Tribe and be the first to view the incoming short film with Jade, EP.7 Travelling Between Worlds, you can sign up here.
To learn more about Jade Akamarre and her gallery, Pwerle, use the links below:
Jade Akamarre Instagram
Pwerle Gallery Instagram
Pwerle Gallery Website