Artists use this title when they are depicting their Country. It might be a representation of a particular place or of different aspects of that area. The artist uses a combination of colour and design to indicate variations in the landscape. Inspiration is drawn from all elements of Country and might include bush tucker, water holes, meeting places, rock formation, birds or animals.
Name: Malpiya (Irpintiri) Davey
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Community: Pukatja
Biography:
Malpiya Davey was born in 1959 and has lived in Ernabella most of her life. She has five daughters and a son and numerous grandchildren, and is the daughter-in-law of famous Ernabella artist Nura Rupert. Once her children were grown up she began to dedicate more time to art-making and became especially skilled in ceramics, as well as painting and print making.
Malpiya’s mother’s and father’s country is to the west of Ernabella near the Western Australian border in country between Watarru and Iltur; Malpiya often paints about this country. Malpiya’s mark making is based around depiction of traditional bush foods - kampurarpa (bush tomato), wayanu (quandong) and unturngu (bush banana).
Since Ernabella Arts opened its on-site ceramic studio in 2003, Malpiya has been one of the most enthusiastic and prolific ceramic workers there. She has pioneered sgraffito technique and made it her specialty and her works have been acquired by major collectors as well as Araluen, Flinders University Art Museum and Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
In 2010, Malpiya received the Western Australia Indigenous Art Award. Her art has been exhibited across Australia, including in ARTMART 2016: Resin, Rubber and Other Potent Means at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin.
Malpiya also works for APY Land Management on the Threatened Species project for the Warru (Black Flanked Rock Wallaby).
Status: Stock Handmade ceramic tile by Ernabella Artists Size 15 x 15cm Due to the handmade nature, slight size variations may occur
Status: Stock Punu (wood carving) Punu are wood carvings by Anangu (Central and Western Desert Aboriginal people), they are hand carved and decorated with walka, patterns burnt into the wood with heated wire.