Ngayuku ngura My Country
Aboriginal & Pacific Art presents
Ngayuku ngura My Country in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA
Women’s group exhibition featuring new works by Mitakiki Women’s Collaborative, Tjungkara Ken, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin, Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken, Muna Kulyuru and Janie Kulyuru Lewis
3 - 27 August, 2022
Front page: Maringka Tunkin, Ngayuku ngura - My Country #213-22, acrylic on linen,152.5 x 198 cm
Mitakiki Women’s Collaborative Seven Sisters #486-21 Acrylic on linen 150 x 150 cm
Tjungkara Ken Seven Sisters #236-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Seven Sisters Tjungkara Ken has depicted the Seven Sisters Story. This is a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellation Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya, who is described as a lusty or bad man who chases them relentlessly in his desire 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 kampurapra (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 knowledgable about his magic; they go hungry through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and then 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.
Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken Ngayuku ngura - My Country #181-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country In this painting Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken has depicted her country. The different colours and designs represent variations in the landscape. Sylvia paints the Seven Sisters Story, an important Dreaming story of the region. Her family are traditional owners for significant sites where the Seven Sisters Story takes place. Sylvia paints this story, the landscape where it takes place in as well as the characters in the story.
Janie Kulyuru Lewis Ngayuku ngura - My country #187-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country In this painting, Janine Kulyuru Lewis has depicted her country. The different colours and designs represent variations in the landscape. Before coming to Tjala Arts and beginning to paint on canvas, Janie Kulyuru Lewis speciatlised in batik working under the umbrella of Tjurma Homelands Arts and Craft Centre. Her father’s country is Aparatjara, Western Australia and her mothers country is Watarru, South Australia.
Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken Seven Sisters #41-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Seven Sisters Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken depicts the Seven Sisters Story. The sisters are the constellation of Pleides, and another star, Orion, is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya and is described as a lustful, bad man who chases the sisters in his desire to marry the eldest sister.
Janie Kulyuru Lewis Ngayuku ngura - My Country #162-22 Acrylic on linen 122 x 198 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country In this painting Janie Kulyuru Lewis has depicted her country. The different colours and designs represent variations in the landscape. Before coming to Tjala Arts and beginning to paint on canvas, Janie Kulyuru Lewis speciatlised in batik working under the umbrella of Tjurma Homelands Arts and Craft Centre. Her father’s country is Aparatjara, Western Australia and her mothers country is Watarru, South Australia.
Muna Kulyuru Ngayuku ngura - My Country #226-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country In this painting Muna Kulyuru has depicted her country. The different colours and designs represent variations in the landscape. Muna Kulyuru is a respected artist, teacher, and community leader in Amata.
Mitakiki Womens’ Collaborative Seven Sistsers #453-21 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm
Seven Sisters Mona Mitakiki and Tjimpayi have depicted in the Seven Sisters Story within this work. The story in the work details how Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara Women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest daughter. The Seven Sisters travel again and again from the sky to earth to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions.
Maringka Tunkin Ngayuku ngura - My Country #213-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 198 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country In this painting Maringka Tunkin depicts her country, the colours and designs representing variations in the landscape. Maringka Tunkin was born and raised in Amata. She is the daughter of the late Kunmanara (Paniny) Mick and Mick Wikilyiri, both senior and highly regarded painters at Tjala Arts.
Muna Kulyuru Ngayuku ngura - My Country #235-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm
Ngayuku ngura - My Country Muna Kulyuru was born in Tjiwuru near Ernabella in 1964, and started painting with Tjurma Homelands and then Minymaku Arts when it opened. Today Muna paints exclusively at Tjala Arts in Amata, where she creates works depicting her country in her vibrant style.
Freda Brady Seven Sisters #195-22 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm
Seven Sisters Within this work, Freda Brady depicts the Seven Sisters Story, which follows the chase between the lustful Nyiru and the Kunkarunkara Women whom are the Orion star and Pleides constellation respectively. They turn into their human forms to escape from the persistent Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky.
Mitakiki Women’s Collaborative Seven Sisters #389-21 Acrylic on linen 122 x 198 cm
Seven Sisters Mona Mitakiki and Tjimpayi have depicted the Seven Sisters Story in this collaborative work. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurapra (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 knowledgable about his magic; they go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru.
Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken Seven Sisters #750-21 Acrylic on linen 152.5 x 122 cm
Seven Sisters This work by Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken depicts the Seven Sisters Story, a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion, who are the sisters and the lustful bad man, Nyiru. Nyiru chases the sisters who have changed into their human forms, until 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 to the sky to escape Nyiru, reforming the constellation.
Ngayuku ngura: My Country
3 - 27 August, 2022
Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA
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 Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA