My Country – Diane Kemarre Ross The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit. “This is my country, it’s the country around Irrultja. This is where we like to go after big rain. After big Read more…
Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters) ‘Kungkarrangkalpa’ (The Seven Sisters or Pleaides) is significant Tjukurrpa (dreamtime). Its origins you may be familiar with in astronomy and its connection to ‘Wati Nyiru’ (Magic Man or Orion). The roots of this dreaming stems across indigenous groups around the world. The Australian Aboriginal songline is one Read more…
Bush Tucker – Maisie Petyarre Bundey;- Maisie paints the bush tucker found in her country, the area that surrounds Boundary Bore in the Utopia homelands. She paints bush plums, bush bananas, bush potatoes and bush medicine plants. The main motif which recurs often in Maisie artworks is a full coolamon. When Read more…
Kurranji (Cassowary) The cassowary is one of the most important animals for our Kuku Yalanji people. The cassowary is the boss of the rainforest. He is dangerous but he also helps grow many of the plants we used to collect for food, medicine and tool making. How does he do Read more…
Yindili (Kingfisher) The Kingfisher, known as Yindili in Kuku Yalanji language, is according to our culture one of the significant messenger birds. The Kingfisher will let us know when to expect a visit from families living in another community, And when we see a Kingfisher close by, we know that something good will soon Read more…
Jarruka Bulka (Scrubfowl Nest) Jarruka Bulka (Scrubfowl Nest) and the Diwan Bulka (Brush Turkey Nest) is essential to the survival of our hunting and gathering practices, as the women and girls collect the eggs from these nests, every season.The Jarruka Bulka is more sought after and is the larger of Read more…
Jarruka Bulka (Scrubfowl Nest) Jarruka Bulka (Scrubfowl Nest) and the Diwan Bulka (Brush Turkey Nest) is essential to the survival of our hunting and gathering practices, as the women and girls collect the eggs from these nests, every season.The Jarruka Bulka is more sought after and is the larger of Read more…
Kakan (Black Palm) Dillybag. Our ancestors used Kakan (Black Palm) dilly bags to carry food when out hunting and gathering or soak bitter yams in creeks before cooking them. They were also used to hold personal items. When I was a young girl my grandmother would teach me how to Read more…