2019 Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija

Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija

Ruwa Martuwarra-Karti Jaa Pirra-Karti Going Hunting to the River and Billabongs 2 – 30 March 2019

Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija Ruwa Martuwarra-Karti Jaa Pirra-Karti Going Hunting to the River and Billabongs Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney In association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, WA

EXHIBITION: 2 – 30 March 2019

In Ruwa Martuwarra-Karti Jaa Pirra-Karti two remarkable sisters, Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija, effortlessly combine their memories of a life by the river with new art mediums to create exciting contemporary artwork.

Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija are sisters. Descendants of the Walmajarri who moved north from the desert in the first half of the last century, their parents settling at Noonkoonbah in the Fitzroy Valley River region of WA. Born by the Fitzroy River, daily life was integrated with the life of the river. The ebb and flow of this phenomenal water source provided a place to hunt, swim and fish. Taught through stories and dance, understanding the complexity of the seasons was and continues to be essential to existing in synchronicity to its cycles.

For Sonia and Daisy, the act of making art is a direct connection to growing up on river country. One might assume that painting the same subject and places would create similar imagery however each artist presents a unique interpretation of their own which can be seen in their different approaches.

Sonia's work is produced stream of consciousness with layered brush strokes and linear marks depicting motifs to describe the layers of water-life and plants that exist in and around the river Martuwarra and the billabongs Pirra. After the flood waters recede, the billabongs hold a plentiful supply of parlka (barramundi), kurlumajarti (catfish) and bream. She paints gapi [fish], parrmarr (rocks) where the fish is cooked, ngurti (coolamon) and a karli (boomerang) lathered on.

These contemporary compositions display an outstanding understanding of colour.

Thinking about Martuwarra and Pirra has been informing Daisy’s art since she began painting many years ago. Daisy creates colour planes layered with bold shapes, dots, lines and delicate marks to represent the billabongs and the colour of her country during and after the wet season from above. Daisy’s joy is evident in her smile as she works and carried through to the viewer with the vibrant layered compositions she constructs.

In Ruwa Martuwarra-Karti Jaa Pirra-Karti these two remarkable sisters effortlessly combine their memories of a life by the river with new art mediums to create exciting artwork.

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #329-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 120 cm

Daisy Japulija Billabongs #244-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 120 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #245-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 120 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #272-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 60 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #274-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 60 cm

Daisy Japulija Billabongs #330-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 90 x 90 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #327-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 90 x 90 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #293-18 Acrylic paint on canvas 120 x 180 cm

Daisy Japulija Billabongs #331-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 90 x 90 cm

Daisy Japulija Billabongs #332-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 90 x 90 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #333-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 90 x 90 cm

Daisy Japulija Billabongs #334-18 Acrylic paint on polycarbonate 60 x 90 cm

Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #434-18 Acrylic paint on canvas 100 x 120 cm

Sonia Kurarra Skin: Nampiyinti Language: Walmajarri Country: Noonkanbah DOB: c. 1952

Sonia Kurarra grew up in the river country at Yungngora (Noonkanbah). She used to help the kindergarten teacher with teaching art. They used to take the children out to the Sandy Billabong and teach them how to paint and dance. There is a ngarrangkarni [Dreamtime] snake that lives in the billabong. His name is Nangurra.

Sonia began painting at Mangkaja in the early 1990s working mostly on paper. Since 2008, Sonia has been working predominantly on canvas and her practice has become more consistent. She has exhibited in numerous group shows and had an overwhelming response to her first solo shows in 2009.

Sonia paints the sandy billabong country along the stretch of the Fitzroy River that runs directly behind the community. After the flood waters recede, there are billabongs that hold a plentiful supply of parlka [barramundi], kurlumajarti [catfish] and bream. She paints gapi [fish], parrmarr [rocks] where the fish is cooked, ngurti [coolamon] and a karli [boomerang].

Sonia paints these images over and over as though they are etched into her psyche; works that are linear representations in monotones and others that are layers lathered on with wild and confident brush strokes. These contemporary compositions display an outstanding understanding of colour.

Daisy Japulija Skin: Nampiyinti Language: Nyikina, Walmajarri Country: Noonkanbah DOB: c.1948

Daisy Japulija was born near Noonkanbah under a Konkerberry tree. She grew up in Noonkanbah and worked in the station kitchen until she married Colin Wasi.

They left Noonkanbah and travelled around the country. They ended up at Cherrabun Station where they set up camp for a long time. They had one son together.

Daisy started painting at the Noonkanbah shearing shed and then in the old Mangkaja shed a long time ago. Previously, paintings done at Yakanara were sent to Mangkaja. She painted with Yakanara Adult Education Centre whose main emphasis was the teaching of children, instruction in language and culture and teaching people about painting. Those attending were also taken on excursions to the local waterholes and rivers.

Daisy visited her ancestral country, the Kurlku area of the Greats Sandy Desert, only once when her mother took her there as an adult. Daisy’s art is an incorporation of motifs and memories of a life lived by the river and billabongs of the Fitzroy Valley.

ARTISTS NEWS: Artists Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija will have artworks featured in following exhibitions:

Sonia Kurarra and Daisy Japulija The National 2019: New Australian Art 29 March – 23 June 2019 Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

Sonia Kurarra Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley 9 February – 27 May 2019 Art Gallery of Western Australia

Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney in association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia 2 – 30 March 2019

All images copyright the Artists.

Courtesy Mangkaja Arts and Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney.

Aboriginal & Pacific Art 1/24 Wellington Street Waterloo NSW 2017 Australia Ph: +61 2 9699 2211 info@aboriginalpacificart.com.au www.aboriginalpacificart.com.au