Belonging to the River
17 July - 3 August, 2024
Presented by Aboriginal & Pacific Art in association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, WA.
The Fitzoy River is ever-present in the art and life of Sonia Kurarra, and despite the catastophic flooding last year that displaced her and the rest of her community, she continues to show us the river through her eyes; bountiful, sacred, full of colour and life. Through her masterful use of colour and line, we can peek beneath the swirling surface to see parlka (barramundi), kurlumajarti (catfish) and turtles hiding in rockholes and river reeds.
Front cover image: Sonia Kurarra, Martuwarra #45/24 Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas, 120 x 150 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra
#43/24
Atelier Acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
120 x 90 cm
Kurarra Martuwarra #494/23
180 x 60 cm
Sonia
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
Kurarra Martuwarra #490/23
180 x 60 cm
Sonia
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
60
Amy Palmer
Tali and Bush Flower #16/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
x 60 cm
Amy Palmer
Tali and Bush Flower #17/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
60 x 60 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #235/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
60 x 60 cm
60
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #26/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
x 60 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #45/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
150 x 120 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
180 x 60 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #273/24
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
Kurarra Martuwarra #274/24
180 x 60 cm
Sonia
Atelier acrylic paint on 14oz canvas
Acrylic on 250gsm velin arches paper 36 x 56 cm
Sonia Kurarra Martuwarra #443/21
Belonging to the River
Presented by Aboriginal & Pacific Art in association with Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
17 July - 3 August, 2024
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.