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Homeless on my Homeland Tote Bag by Vanessa Inkamala

This tote bag represents a tangible collaboration involving renowned artists Tony Albert, Vanessa Inkamala, and the Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre. One side bears the impactful artwork “Homeless on my homeland,” part of a series of 14 bags commissioned for the 2020 Biennale of Sydney to make a bold statement on precarity, homelessness, and Indigenous land justice. On the reverse side, “before and after,” originally an etching created in collaboration with Cicada Press and Tony Albert in 2016, has been revised for this tote bag, unfolding a visual narrative portraying the environmental consequences of corporate exploitation of natural resources.

Despite the profound messages conveyed, there is a subtle irony in utilising consumer goods to critique the very consumerism and corporate culture depicted within the artworks. This juxtaposition serves to emphasise the complexities of contemporary activism and underscores the multifaceted role of art as a catalyst for societal change.

“We want to raise awareness about issues we are facing, and this is how we do it, through our artwork. This gives us a voice.” -Vanessa Inkamala 

Categories: Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands art centre

Name: Vanessa Inkamala

Language: Western Aranda

Community: Alice Springs

Biography:

Vanessa Inkamala was born in Ntaria (Hermannsburg) in 1968, with a rich artistic heritage; her great-uncle is the renowned Albert Namatjira, and her aunt, the late Ivy Pareroultja, was also a respected artist. Following in her family's footsteps, Vanessa's younger brother, Reinhold Inkamala, is an established landscape painter.

In her late 20s, Vanessa married Fabian Conway, an Eastern Arrernte man from Santa Teresa, situated east of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Immersed in the vibrant artistic community there, Vanessa honed her craft, creating works inspired by the cultural richness of the region.

Currently based in Mparntwe, Vanessa dedicates her days to her artistic practice at the Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre. Her journey with the art centre began in 2010, and her distinctive style quickly captured the attention of major collectors. Her works are now part of esteemed collections including those at the University of Technology Sydney, National Museum Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art.

Vanessa's artistic journey has been marked by participation in special projects, including a professional development workshop led by acclaimed artist and friend Tony Albert. Her contributions to the workshops, which aimed to explore socio-political themes, were profound. Notably, her piece 'It was a Bright Country' illustrates the impacts of colonization and globalization on the land, depicted with vibrancy and colour.

In 2017 during a Cicada Press print workshop, Vanessa reimagined this impactful work as a multi-plate etching, titled 'Before and After – McDonalds,' which was showcased at TARNANTHI: Festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Her dedication to exploring complex themes through her art continues to resonate within the artistic community.

 

Special Projects:

2016          Cicada Press print workshop with Tony Albert, UNSW, Sydney

2017          Group installation, Parrtjima, Festival of Light, Alice Springs

2024          Solo installation 'Tjoritja Cockatoos', Parrtjima, Festival of Light, Alice Springs

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© the artist / art centre