2019 Tjungu Palya exhibition | Tjukurpa Kunpu Palya: Strong Stories

Tjukurpa Kunpu Palya: Strong Stories 8 - 31 August 2019

Presented by Aboriginal & Pacific Art in association with Tjungu Palya, Nyapari, South Australia

Image: Maringka Baker Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa 2019, Synthetic Polymer on Linen, 168 x 110 cm

ABOUT: Tjungu Palya Aboriginal Corporation established in March 2006 is a community based arts collective located at Nyapari community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of far north west South Australia, 450 km south west of Alice Springs and around 100kms from the Western Australian border. The art centre services artists living in Nyapari, Kanpi (15km to the west), Watarru (180km southwest) and Angatja (40km northeast). Tjungu Palya translates as Good Together and refers to this collaboration between the four communities.

Tjungu Palya is an Aboriginal owned and governed art enterprise. The motivation for building up the business of the art centre is to increase the capacity for Anangu to positively take control of their lives.

The artists have a deep connection to country, which is expressed with integrity, beauty and a bold creativity in the canvas paintings as traditional stories of the ancestors’ journeys are retold. Each painting depicts a fragment of a larger story, a living history where an ancestor was involved in creating country. These spirit men and women from the Tjukurpa are still living in this desert landscape and have an ongoing relationship with the desert people. Individuals have authority and ownership of this land and the associated sites and stories, and continue to care and manage the land as their ancestors have done.

These links, both spiritual and physical, to the desert are integral to the wellbeing of Anangu.

Š Tjungu Palya

This is Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa (the creation story of the two sisters). The big sister was travelling with her younger sister back to their homeland. The little sister was reluctant to head further and further north as she had been living with a different family near the ocean to the south. She had been lost for a long time and was unfamiliar with the landscape the big sister was showing her. Eventually the older sister gave her a piggyback and tried to comfort her. She continued to teach her all about the country they travelled through. Sometimes when they stopped they performed Inma (sacred singing and dancing). They camped at Punuwara and Irrunytju rockhole before heading further north to Docker River.

In my paintings you can see all the different parts of these landscapes as they were shown to the younger sister and as they change into each other.

Maringka Baker Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa #19-130 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 214 x 127 cm

Nyangatja Watarru (this is a place called Watarru). Watarru is my home.

This is Anangu tjuta (many Anangu (people)). Anangu tjuta are moving around, moving between waterholes and creeks, and looking for food.

They go out in the daytime, looking around that country, looking through the bush. They look for food and bring what they find back to the kids at the camp. When the water finishes at one place, they move on to the next waterhole. If there’s no water, they keep walking until they find something. Knowing where to find the water is special knowledge. There is water in a lot of unlikely places. There are creeks, waterholes, rockholes, soakages and springs. Kapi wiru (good water) Nyangatja Watarru, this is a special place called Watarru. Watarru is my home. Anangu tjuta (people) are moving around, moving between waterholes and creeks, and looking for food. They search in the daytime, walking slowly and patiently around my country, trusting that they will find something to bring back to the children who are waiting at camp.

Helen Curtis Cave Hill #18-169 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 100 x 150 cm

This is kapi tjukula (the deep rockholes) and karu (the creek lines) in my country Cave Hill. This is a sacred place for the Seven Sisters Dreaming.

Minyma tjuta (the sisters) are sittng inside the cave, they have been collecting bush tucker, desert raisens and bush tomatoes. They wait inside the cave, hiding from the cheeky man, Wati Nyiru. This country is from my father.

Helen Curtis Cave Hill 19-105 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 165 x 200 cm

This is the country for Malilu. She is a creation being from the Tjukurpa (Dreamtime). Minyma Malilu nyinanyi wana ngka munu piti (the woman Malilu is sitting with her digging stick and collecting bowl). She has been dancing, performing Inma important ceremonial dancing for this country and she has left her dancing tracks behind in the sand. Malilu was a crippled woman and her two daughters had run off to get married, leaving her to fend for herself. It was very hard for her to collect bush foods and water because she had to drag her leg as she walked. Through much effort she collected kampurarpa, wiriny-wirinypa, tawalpa munu mai kutjupa-kutjupa (desert rasins, bush tomatoes, berries and many different kinds of wild foods).

Teresa Baker Minyma Malilunya #19-018 Synthetic Polymer on Canvas 120 x 151 cm

Ngayuku mitaku ngurangka (this is the country I have inherited from my husband) a wonderful place called Cave Hill. Cave Hill is an important site for the Seven Sisters dreaming story. When you come here you can see in the rock formations the story of seven sisters as they ran from Wati Nyiru (the cheeky man). The sisters hid in the darkness of the big cave and the oldest sister used her wana (digging stick) to make a hole to escape through the back of the cave, you can still see the scratching marks she made. Cave Hill ta tjukurla tjuta ngaranyi. There is a lot of water here too, many rock holes and connecting creeks and water courses. The abundance of water, food and tjurkupa makes Cave Hill a precious place. My husband Billynya and I travelled on a camel from the mission in Ernabella to this magical home.

Angkaliya Curtis Cave Hill #18-233 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 117 x 198 cm

Ngayuku mitaku ngurangka (this is the country I have inherited from my husband) a wonderful place called Cave Hill. Cave Hill is an important site for the Seven Sisters dreaming story. When you come here you can see in the rock formations the story of seven sisters as they ran from Wati Nyiru (the cheeky man). The sisters hid in the darkness of the big cave and the oldest sister used her wana (digging stick) to make a hole to escape through the back of the cave, you can still see the scratching marks she made. Cave Hill ta tjukurla tjuta ngaranyi. There is a lot of water here too, many rock holes and connecting creeks and water courses. The abundance of water, food and tjurkupa makes Cave Hill a precious place. My husband Billynya and I travelled on a camel from the mission in Ernabella to this magical home.

Angkaliya Curtis Cave Hill #18-254 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 121 x 151 cm

This is Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa (the creation story of the two sisters). The big sister was travelling with her younger sister back to their homeland. The little sister was reluctant to head further and further north as she had been living with a different family near the ocean to the south. She had been lost for a long �me and was unfamiliar with the landscape the big sister was showing her. Eventually the older sister gave her a piggyback and tried to comfort her. She continued to teach her all about the country they travelled through. Sometimes when they stopped they performed Inma (sacred singing and dancing). They camped at Punuwara and Irrunytju rockhole before heading further north to Docker River. In my paintings you can see all the different parts of these landscapes as they were shown to the younger sister and as they change into each other.

Maringka Baker Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa #19-110 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 168 x 110 cm

Tjitji Tjuta Tjukurpa, this is the story of dancing children. It is a sprawling tale with many secret components. There is a scared song and dance ceremony attached to this tjurkupa and I often sing it as I travel and paint.

Nyangatja tjitji tjuta pakalpai tjitji wilu tjuta munu witilunpa tjuta munu tjitji langka tjuta muna tjitji kalaya tjuta tjitji liru tjuta tjitji ngapari tjuta tjitji uwankara tjunguringkupai munu inma kantalpai tjintira Watarrula tjangati.

This site is where all the children were dancing, if you look closely at the rocks around this place you can see the children moving down the rock faces. You’ll see the stone bush children, the emu children, the blue tongue lizard children and the snake children. Even the mamu tjitji (spirit children) move in a big group towards a nearby lakebed, a very special gathering place close to my homeland Watarru. All these children dance and sing together here.

Bernard Tjalkuri Tjitji Tjuta #18-174 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 120 x 150 cm

Kuka mamu; there's an animal crouching down there in Nyapari. Two men making (tjara) shields. They go to hunt that kuka by spearing him. Share with family and then we go down to Watarru way. Family sitting down the bottom rock hole (Iwarawara). There's plenty of water there.

Keith Stevens Nyapari Tjukurpa #18-222 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 121 x 152 cm

This is the story of two women- the older sister is called Atatjara. They sit around their campsite patiently and when the time is right they go out searching for the kuka pulka (big game). As they search the women come across the tracks of a large snake that could feed them well, little do they know these tracks have been drawn in the sand by two men to trick the women. The men have used their miru (spear throwers) to make tracks that look like a big snake. The Wanampi men (water-snake men) are cunning, they leave a trail of kuka kulupa (little bits of meat) to keep the women chasing.

The women think they are getting close, but they only ever find small pieces of meat. They become confused. One day they are digging along the track, they dig one hole ‌ nothing, they dig a second hole ‌ nothing, they dig a third and fourth hole and finally while they are digging the fifth hole they uncover two men asleep. The men are in a deep slumber, snoring loudly. The women become wild with anger when they realize they have been tricked by the Wanampi men.

While the men are still sleeping, one woman takes her wana (digging stick) and strikes one of the men on his back. The man wakes up in pain and sees the woman running away. He chases her, devours her and drags her back into the Piltati rockhole, the Wanampiku ngura (water-snake resting place/home). The Wanampi is always surrounded by water. He belongs to water, water belongs to him.

Keith Stevens Piltati #19-057 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 114 x 200 cm

Kunamata, this is my ngura (homeland). There are many different plants, animals and landforms at Kunamata. There is karu pulka (a big creek) that runs from the apu (rocky hills). Itjulu is on the other side and apu tjuta (rocky hills) are everywhere with different manta (ground) and different punu (trees). There is Ili (native fig) growing at Kunamata and underneath is Minkulpa Tjuta (lots of native tobacco). Kunamata is a very special place for my family.

The snake is panakura (desert death adder). Each day he ventures out to the cave to paint sacred designs on the cave walls, before returning home again. His home is in the sand hills close to Kunamata. Sometimes I also paint two Liru's (snakes) kunga and wati (female and male), coming from Kunamata. Along the way they hunt for mingkiri (mice) at night. In my paintings you will sometimes see the mingkiri tracks. They are going out collecting food and water and returning to their cave. The mingkiri always hide underground in their warren.

Meanwhile, during the daytime, that tjalku (bilby) was looking for tjala (honey ant) inside the tjala's nest. Walawuru (eagle) was waiting for him to appear out in the open. Eventually tjalku did so and walawuru eats him.

This country where this story is, is called Ilpin. There are sand hills, rock holes and rock boulders. This country is sacred country.

Ginger Wikilyiri Kunamata #18-223 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 122 x 150 cm

Kunamata, this is my ngura (homeland). There are many different plants, animals and landforms at Kunamata. There is karu pulka (a big creek) that runs from the apu (rocky hills). Itjulu is on the other side and apu tjuta (rocky hills) are everywhere with different manta (ground) and different punu (trees). There is Ili (native fig) growing at Kunamata and underneath is Minkulpa Tjuta (lots of native tobacco). Kunamata is a very special place for my family.

The snake is panakura (desert death adder). Each day he ventures out to the cave to paint sacred designs on the cave walls, before returning home again. His home is in the sand hills close to Kunamata. Sometimes I also paint two Liru's (snakes) kunga and wati (female and male), coming from Kunamata. Along the way they hunt for mingkiri (mice) at night. In my paintings you will sometimes see the mingkiri tracks. They are going out collecting food and water and returning to their cave. The mingkiri always hide underground in their warren.

Meanwhile, during the daytime, that tjalku (bilby) was looking for tjala (honey ant) inside the tjala's nest. Walawuru (eagle) was waiting for him to appear out in the open. Eventually tjalku did so and walawuru eats him.

This country where this story is, is called Ilpin. There are sand hills, rock holes and rock boulders. This country is sacred country.

Ginger Wikilyiri Kunamata #18-269 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 120 x 197 cm

Kunamata, this is my ngura (homeland). There are many different plants, animals and landforms at Kunamata. There is karu pulka (a big creek) that runs from the apu (rocky hills). Itjulu is on the other side and apu tjuta (rocky hills) are everywhere with different manta (ground) and different punu (trees). There is Ili (native fig) growing at Kunamata and underneath is Minkulpa Tjuta (lots of native tobacco). Kunamata is a very special place for my family.

The snake is panakura (desert death adder). Each day he ventures out to the cave to paint sacred designs on the cave walls, before returning home again. His home is in the sand hills close to Kunamata. Sometimes I also paint two Liru's (snakes) kunga and wati (female and male), coming from Kunamata. Along the way they hunt for mingkiri (mice) at night. In my paintings you will sometimes see the mingkiri tracks. They are going out collecting food and water and returning to their cave. The mingkiri always hide underground in their warren.

Meanwhile, during the daytime, that tjalku (bilby) was looking for tjala (honey ant) inside the tjala's nest. Walawuru (eagle) was waiting for him to appear out in the open. Eventually tjalku did so and walawuru eats him.

This country where this story is, is called Ilpin. There are sand hills, rock holes and rock boulders. This country is sacred country.

Ginger Wikilyiri Kunamata #18-266 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 122 x 151 cm

Kunamata, this is my ngura (homeland). There are many different plants, animals and landforms at Kunamata. There is karu pulka (a big creek) that runs from the apu (rocky hills). Itjulu is on the other side and apu tjuta (rocky hills) are everywhere with different manta (ground) and different punu (trees). There is Ili (native fig) growing at Kunamata and underneath is Minkulpa Tjuta (lots of native tobacco). Kunamata is a very special place for my family.

The snake is panakura (desert death adder). Each day he ventures out to the cave to paint sacred designs on the cave walls, before returning home again. His home is in the sand hills close to Kunamata. Sometimes I also paint two Liru's (snakes) kunga and wati (female and male), coming from Kunamata. Along the way they hunt for mingkiri (mice) at night. In my paintings you will sometimes see the mingkiri tracks. They are going out collecting food and water and returning to their cave. The mingkiri always hide underground in their warren.

Meanwhile, during the daytime, that tjalku (bilby) was looking for tjala (honey ant) inside the tjala's nest. Walawuru (eagle) was waiting for him to appear out in the open. Eventually tjalku did so and walawuru eats him.

This country where this story is, is called Ilpin. There are sand hills, rock holes and rock boulders. This country is sacred country.

Ginger Wikilyiri Kunamata #19-129 Synthetic Polymer on Linen 149 x 199 cm

This is kapi tjukula (the deep rockholes) and karu (the creek lines) in my country Cave Hill. This is a sacred place for the Seven Sisters Dreaming.

Minyma tjuta (the sisters) are sitting inside the cave, they have been collecting bush tucker, desert raisins and bush tomatoes. They wait inside the cave, hiding from the cheeky man, Wati Nyiru. This country is from my father.

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