JOY TAPAU- NPA Art Centre | ‘Nature’s Creation’ | Hand-painted ceramic plate

"Nature's creation. All along our beaches in the straits and on the mainland we find coconuts. Coconuts are vital to our survival giving us food drink shelter and so much more." - Joy Tapau

Joy Tapau was born on Murray Island into the Daurareb and Komet Tribes. She moved to Bamaga in 1989.

The Northern Peninsula Area Arts Centre (NPA Arts Centre) is located in the vibrant Aboriginal community of New Mapoon, approximately 40 kilometres from the Tip of Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost point of the Australian continent.

The Centre represents artists from the five communities that make up the Northern Peninsula Area: the three Aboriginal communities of Injinoo, Umagico, and New Mapoon, along with the Torres Strait Islander communities of Bamaga and Seisia.

Situated in close proximity, these diverse communities provide a rich source of cultural inspiration. Artists draw deeply from the land, sea, family and cultural connections, language, and traditional stories handed down through generations via song and dance.

As the only arts centre in the Northern Peninsula Area, the NPA Arts Centre is dedicated to promoting, preserving, and empowering the creative talents of local artists. Its mission is to harness and showcase the region’s vibrant cultural diversity through art.

JOY TAPAU- NPA Art Centre | ‘Nature’s Creation’ | 2025 | Hand-painted ceramic plate | 4 (h) x  27.5 (w) x 27(d) cm