Ernabella Arts Inc.

Ngayuku Walka / My Design Walka means design or pattern. Artists use this title to describe artworks that are pattern based rather than descriptive or telling a story.

Tjala / Honey Ants Tjala or honey ants live in nests about a metre underground beneath mulga trees, and they are a highly favoured food source. The tjala tunnels that lead down to the ants’ nests are called nyinantu, and the larvae are called ipilyka-ipilyka. After the rain when the ground is Read more…

Tjukula/Waterholes For the Pitjantjatjara people living in the desert, knowledge of their water sources was critical to their survival. This resulted in an intimate understanding of the landscape which continues today. Water is an essential element in the desert. These rock holes were particularly important during the dry season when Read more…

Tjukula/Waterholes For the Pitjantjatjara people living in the desert, knowledge of their water sources was critical to their survival. This resulted in an intimate understanding of the landscape which continues today. Water is an essential element in the desert. These rock holes were particularly important during the dry season when Read more…

Tjukurpa Mulayangu Tjukurpa Mulayangu is a men’s law place. They made this place and campsite. Mulayangu made this place. Over in the west is the other side of Amata which is my father’s country. This is a sacred place called Tankalanya. This is all I can say.

Dust Storm Rachael comes from the third generation of Lionel women painting at Ernabella Arts. Rachael draws inspiration for her paintings from the stories and messages she receives through her dreams. This painting is a dream she has about a dust storm. She was out in the desert and could Read more…

Anumara – Caterpillar Yurpiya is painting a place called Anumara, which is a place near Irrunytju (Wingellina) in WA. This is Yurpiya’s family’s country. Anumara is also the name for a kind of caterpillar and Anumara is the tjukurpa (dreaming) place for this caterpillar. This caterpillar lives in the grass Read more…

Tjukula/Waterholes For the Pitjantjatjara people living in the desert, knowledge of their water sources was critical to their survival. This resulted in an intimate understanding of the landscape which continues today. Water is an essential element in the desert. These rock holes were particularly important during the dry season when Read more…

Jeffrey’s Birds Jeffrey paints his favourite birds that live in the country around Ernabella. These include the kuparu (magpie), partilpa (Port Lincoln ringed neck parrot), kayarkiyarpa (galah), tjintir-tjintirpa (willy wag-tail), piil-piilpa (yellow throated minor) and kuurkuurpa (owls). .

Kungkarangkalpa / Seven Sisters Kungkarangkalpa means the Seven Sisters. This is an extensive creation story that relates to the Pleiades constellation in the southern hemisphere. The story traverses Australia taking on different forms, however local women are privy to the part of the story which takes place in the country Read more…