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Maku (Witchetty Grub) Derek’s Story

This is a tjukurpa (story) from near Mimili on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands from when Aṉangu (people) came here a long time ago. When the maku (witchetty grub) was finished, people sang the maku to make them come back. They sang and danced and scattered leaves to make the maku come out of the ground. This is Derek’s grandmother’s story. She used to dance to these songs when she lived in Mimili and she’s now buried there.

Derek’s cousin says: ‘So when they dance to that maku song, that song develops all the bush food – maku under the ground to grow more bigger and to have more maku in the roots. So when the ladies dig it they can see it really close in the roots as well. They can be like five of them but they have to be really, really big’.

Until relatively recently bush foods were the primary source of sustenance for Aṉangu and maku is still one of the favourites. Many bush foods are still gathered regularly almost exclusively by women, and they feature strongly in artistic mark making. Women learn the art of gathering each of the foods from a young age and much inma (ceremony) relates to these practices and the maintenance of supply.

Categories: Ernabella Arts Inc.

Name: Derek Jungarrayi Thompson

Language: Pitjantjatjara

Community: Pukatja

Biography:

Derek Jungarrayi Thompson is the maternal grandson of Papunya Tula artist, Makinti Napanangka.

He came to work at Ernabella Arts in 2011 during the first men-only ceramic workshop. His figurative drawing work was already well advanced and he explained that he draws 'all the time at home.'

Derek is also an avid hunter. The translation of his drawings of the Pukatja landscape and animal life onto ceramics is quite unique and received immediate interest from collectors and curators.

In 2012 Derek undertook a residency at the Ceramic Workshop of the Australian National University, where he did pottery and printmaking. For many years his collaborative works with fellow Ernabella artist Ngunytjima Carroll were highly sought after and were selected as finalists in many awards including the NATSIAAs (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards). Ngunytjima threw tall pots onto which Derek applied his designs and drawings using the sgrafitto technique.

Derek and Ernabella artist Tjimpuna Williams were awarded an Australia Council grant in 2013 to undertake a big pot workshop in Jingdezhen, China. This body of large scale works was exhibited at Sabbia Gallery in Sydney and in Canberra as part of the Australian Ceramics Triennale. In 2017 Derek's work was exhibited at Harvey Arts in the USA.

Derek continues to be a key figure and leading artist in the ceramics studio, using clay to create beautifully detailed renditions of Country.

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