Power of Colours Through Connection
Power of Colours Through Connection
27 September - 21 October 2023
“After the catastrophic flood on January 2nd, 2023, many people were left stranded and evacuated across the Fitzroy Valley. This devastation included many Mangkaja artists. The aged care, Guwardi Ngardu is home to many significant senior artists including Sonia Kurarra. They were evacuated to Derby and were unable to return until July. This heavily affected their art and cultural practice. The artworks created this year highlight Sonia’s unwavering commitment to her arts practice despite the many issues created by the widespread natural disaster.
For other artists like Terry Murray and Amy Palmer, their communities were cut-off from the main townsite. Utilising helicopters and barges, some art supplies were able to be delivered, however it did make a significant impact on their well-being as well as their arts practices. Despite all of this, the two artists, like many others, have used this disaster to solidify their focus on the importance of art as a healing practice.”
Front cover image: Sonia Kurarra, Martuwarra #172/23, Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas, 120 x 90 cm
Presented by Aboriginal & Pacific Art in association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, WA.
- Liam Kennedy, Manager of Mangkaja Arts
Terry Murungkurr Murray
Ngurrara Country
#79/23
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
120 x 120 cm
Martuwarra
#172/23
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
90 x 120 cm
Sonia Kurarra
Amy Palmer
Tali & Bush Flowers
#69/22
Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
120 x 90 cm
Sonia Kurarra
Martuwarra
#308/21
Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
180 x 60 cm
Martuwarra
Sonia Kurarra
#310/21
Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
180 x 60 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #185/16
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas 100 x 150.5 cm
Martuwarra
“Martuwarra is my river country; this painting is all about the Fitzroy River which flows down through Noonkanbah where I live. All kinds of fish live in the water, we catch big mob of fish here. I like Parlka (barramundi). We catch catfish and brim here too. Nganku (shark), Wirritunany (swordfish) and Stingray also live here. These fish live in these waters long after the flood has gone. Also this painting is about barramundi swimming on the surface of the water, you can see the Wakiri (Pandanus tree) and rocks all around. When the barramundi get tired they go back into the rock holes. These rock holes hold all the Parlka (barramundi) that live in the river. Kalpurtu (creator serpent-type being) also live in these rock holes and swim all around the Palma (creeks) and all around the Wakiri that grows in the river.”
- Sonia Kurarra#80/23
120
Terry Murungkurr Murray
Japinka Jila
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
x 120 cm
“Terry Murungkurr Murray has strong familial connections with significant fouding artists from Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency. His father, Peter Skipper was both an important artist as well as being a cultural leader for the Ngurra Canvas from Walmajarri country in the Great Sandy Desert. Additionally, artists Jimmy Nerrimah and Mona Chuguna, Paji Honeychild and Cory Surprise are all close family members.”
- Liam Kennedy, Manager at Mangkaja ArtsMartuwarra
#465/21
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz 120 x 90 cm
Sonia Kurarra
Amy Palmer
Tali & Bush Flowers
#202/23
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
180 x 90 cm
Terry Murungkurr Murray
Homeland Entering The Desert
#1001/23
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
90 x 120 cm
Terry Munungkurr Murray
Pinini Lake
#1000/23
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
120 x 90 cm
Narda
#173/08
Atelier acrylic on 250gsm velin arches paper
56 x 76 cm
Janangoo Butcher Cherel
Martuwarra
#444/21
Acrylic on 250gsm velin arches paper
56 x 36 cm, Framed
Sonia Kurarra
Martuwarra
#443/21
Sonia Kurarra
Acrylic on 250gsm velin arches paper 36 x 56 cm
Power of Colours Through Connection
Presented by Aboriginal & Pacific Art in association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
27 September - 21 October 2023
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
All images and text copyright the Artists and the community, Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia.