Ernabella Arts Inc.

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…

Ikarka – Spotted Bowerbird When I was a little kid me and my family used to go hunting for tjala (honey ants) in the bush and we used to see a lot of ikarka under the mulga trees. The birds were collecting snails and little shiny things like glass, necklace, Read more…

Carlene’s Mamu – Spirit Figures Carlene’s depiction of mamu has been told to her by her grandfather and grandmother. These mamu are the spirits of the ancestors who appear in the bush at night time. A mamu is a spirit which lives near waterholes. Mamu are usually depicted as bad Read more…

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.

Kampurarpa Tjukurpa – Elizabeth’s Story Kampurarpa are bush tomatoes. Elizabeth’s work comments on the environmental change that has occurred on her country due to the introduction of non-native fauna such as cattle, and flora, notably weeds like buffel grass. Buffel grass is so widespread and destructive that it is commonly Read more…

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.

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…

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 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…