114182382367
Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters)
In this work, Elfreda Benson draws from the Kungkarrangkalpa Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) — the epic story of the Seven Sisters and their celestial escape from Wati Nyiru (the Magic Man). This widespread ancestral narrative, known globally through the Pleiades star cluster, takes on distinct local meanings across different Aboriginal Nations. For the Ngaanyatjarra people, this story is etched into the land through significant sites and songlines, forming a cultural map of survival, resistance, and knowledge.
Though loosely referencing this cosmological journey, Elfreda’s painting focuses on a quieter, grounded moment within the Seven Sisters’ flight — a time of temporary stillness and resourcefulness. Here, the sisters are seen collecting bush foods like kampurarrpa (bush tomato) and sharing wisdom passed through generations. The work honours the sustenance of land, the enduring power of women’s knowledge, and the act of moving together through country.
Elfreda belongs to a strong lineage of artists from the Ngaanyatjarra and APY Lands. She lives and paints in Blackstone, where she works, cares for her family, and continues to pass on cultural knowledge. This painting reflects not only a Tjukurrpa story but also a personal celebration of kinship, nourishment, and desert country.
