Tjala Arts 2020 | Tjukurpa nganampa kunpu kanyintjaku: Stories that keep culture strong

Tjukurpa nganampa kunpu kanyintjaku Stories that keep culture strong

Tjukurpa nganampa kunpu kanyintjaku: Stories that keep culture strong

Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA

30 July - 22 August 2020

Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #273-19 Acrylic on linen 198 x 122 cm â—?

Tjungkara has depicted the Seven Sisters Story. This is a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellaton of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest sister.

The seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions. They turn into their human form to escape from the persistent Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful Ili (fig) tree for them to camp under.

However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the women fall victim to his ways.

It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her.

Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky to escape Nyiru, reforming the constellation. (In some cases the artist will secretly depict sexual elements as Nyiru is really only after one thing -sex).

Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #723-19 Acrylic on linen 122 x 101.5 cm

Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #493-19 Acrylic on linen 198 x 152.5 cm

Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #301-20 Acrylic on linen 198 x 121 cm â—?

Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #325-20 Acrylic on linen 200 x 121 cm

Sylvia has depicted the Seven Sisters Story. This is a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellaton of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest sister.

The seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions. They turn into their human form to escape from the persistent Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful Ili (fig) tree for them to camp under.

However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the women fall victim to his ways.

It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her.

Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky to escape Nyiru, reforming the constellation. (In some cases the artist will secretly depict sexual elements as Nyiru is really only after one thing -sex).

Sy lvia Kanytjupai Ken Seven Sisters #322-20 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm â—?

Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken Seven Sisters #225-20 Acrylic on linen 198 x 197 cm â—?

Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken Seven Sisters #333-20 Acrylic on linen 151 x 122 cm â—?

Mick Wikilyiri has painted Kulata Tjuta- Many Spears. Mick Wikilyiri says that “It’s is a Watiku Wark, - (A man’s job) to protect and defend country culture and family. These three are the only important things.” Mick has depicted the Kulata (spears) and other weapons that were made by Anangu for the purposes of defending and protecting country. Mick says that these are weapons for the soldier.

Mick has been a founding member of the Kulata Tjuta project which aims to teach young Anangu men the traditional craft of making Kulata. In his paintings Mick is continuing the stories passed down to him by his grandfathers and continues the fight for his country.

Mick Wikilyiri Kulata Tjuta #319-19 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm

Stanley Douglas is painting the story of the Seven Sisters at Walinynga (Cave Hill), a significant Seven Sisters Tjukurpa (Dreaming) site of the Anangu, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, and for which he is a Traditional Owner.

Stanley Douglas Seven Sisters #200-20 Acrylic on linen 152 x 101 cm â—?

Nyunmiti paints her country and is remembering stories passed down to her from her father, mother and grandfather when she paints. She is thinking about how a long time ago they used to look after the country, there was plenty of food and families were happy travelling around from place to place. “I heard these stories from my father, mother and grandfathers.

I think about the future of the country for the next generation.�

Nyunmiti Burton.

Nyunmiti Burton Adelaide Studio #233-20 Acrylic on linen 200 x 151 cm

Wawiriya Burton is a senior woman from the Amata community. In her painting, Wawiriya tells the story of her father’s country near Pipalyatjara, west of Amata in South Australia.

‘A long time ago, when we were little children, we ran around Puta Puta and Ilitjata, our grandfather’s and father’s ground, and because of this we grew up strong. Why? Because it’s Anangu country – Aboriginal people’s country – of their spirit.’

– Wawiriya Burton, 2017

Wawiriya Burton Ngayuku ngura – My Country #217-20 Acrylic on linen

Wawiriya Burton Ngayuku ngura – My Country #719-19 Acrylic on linen

Naomi Kantjuriny, Mona Mitakiki and Tjimpayi Presley paint kapi tjukurla (rock holes) that relate to the Kungkarangkalpa tjukurpa.

This story involves the Seven Sisters being chased across country by a bad man (Wati Nyiru). The elder sisters protect and teach the younger ones, and keep them from falling for his tricks. Wati Nyiru can change shape into different rock formations and landmarks. These sites remain part of the landscape and are important Anangu ceremonial places.

The Seven Sisters story is very important to Anangu culture, as a story about family and culture. Mona, Tjimpayi and Naomi were taught to paint by senior artist Kunmanara Katie Kawiny.

She has passed away but the younger women carry her story on for future generations.

Mitakiki Womens’ Collaborative Seven Sisters #42-19 Acrylic on linen 198 x 122 cm

ABOUT TJALA ARTS

Tjala Arts was started by the women of Amata in 1997 and was originally called Minymaku Arts, meaning “belonging to women”. It was renamed in 2006 to reflect the involvement of Anangu men in the art centre.

Tjala Arts is an Aboriginal owned and managed corporation that sells artwork on behalf of its members. Tjala is the Pitjantjatjara word for Honey Ant - a favourite traditional bush food. Tjala is the Tjukurpa or Creation Story for Amata where we are located, in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara/Yankunyjatjara Lands (APY), in the far Northwest of South Australia.

“Nganampa Waltja Tjukurpa – Our family Tjukurpa. We have strong women in our family.

The Seven Sisters story is about family. It is about family protecting each other and teaching each other. In Anangu culture there are lots of family relationships. We are all Kanguru Pulka (big sisters) to the young women. Like in the Seven Sisters story – we must teach and protect our young sisters. This is like our painting too. When we work together as a family we are learning and teaching each other and our young sisters and daughters. Our art centre is strong because we are teaching our young women this important Tjukurpa.”

30 July – 22 August 2020

Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA

All images copyright the Artists.

Courtesy of the artists and Tjala Arts

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