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Untitled
As in this work, husband and wife Leon Cutter and Ivy Bidu regularly collaborate on their paintings. Most often they work together in the Newman Martumili studio.
Ivy was taught to paint by her older sister and well renowned Martumili Artist, Ngamaru Bidu, and her aunt, Jakayu Biljabu (dec.). Leon also learned to paint through observation with his family in Wiluna, and in particular with his older sister Georgina Brown.
Leon and Ivy’s paintings are thematically based around their Country, east of Nyayartakujarra (Ngayarta Kujarra, Lake Dora) and north in the area surrounding Wantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25), Parnngurr, Georgina Bore and Kaalpa (Kalypa, Canning Stock Route Well 23). Regularly depicted in their work are the varieties of bush tucker found in these areas; animals including kirti-kirti (hill kangaroo), parngarra (goanna), kipara (bush turkey) and wuukarta (honey ants), and plant based foods such as jinyjiwirrily (wild gooseberry), jawirli (quandong), wamurla (bush tomato), kakula (bush cucumber) and minyarra (bush onion).
In addition to representing these physical aspects of their Country, Ivy and Leon’s works also often depict metaphysical information; Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narratives chronicling the creation of specific physical landmarks, referenced through depictions of ceremonial sites, songlines, and markers left in the land. These Jukurrpa narratives have been passed to Leon and Ivy by family as they sat down together around waru (fire).
Marlpa is the Martu concept of companionship, and Martumili Artists are famous for working together and alongside each other in their art-making. Collaboration takes form in intergenerational partnerships, cross-cultural dialogues and community wide projects. Through working and painting together, Martumili Artists celebrate the strength of Martu culture, and the joy of community.
Younger Martu artists typically begin painting with their parents, grandparents and extended family, thus fostering an organic process of learning, not only about painting techniques, but also specific locations, family histories, traditional ways of life, bush tucker and Jukurrpa.
