Pirrkili “We camped there, lots of water in that claypan. Old people camp, passing through, going to Karlamilyi. Warman people passing through. From this place they go to Mulunyjarra (rockhole)” – Elizabeth Toby Pirrkili is a claypan surrounded in all directions by permanent tali (sandhills), located east of Nyayartakujarra (Lake Read more…
Puntawarri Waterhole “We drink water at Puntawarri. We clean and dig that waterhole. This Country is Puntawarri. My nanna, Dadda, taught me to paint this Country. Puntawarri is important because it is my pop’s, my nannas’ husband’s, place. They camped there and went hunting for goanna or anything, kangaroo or Read more…
Jirntulurru Ngumpulurru (Martu Kinship) “The four skin groups that govern Martu social structures around marriage and lore are Jangala, Karimarra, Purungu and Milangka. [For example] Anya [Judith Anya Samson, Martumili artist] is Milangka, I am Karimarra skin. Within each skin grouping there is a male and female, and then only one other grouping with which each Read more…
Mungili Waterholes and Rockholes “No one goes there and sees that landscape. Only two, Mr and Mrs [refers to footsteps in painting]. They was walking to see if the water was in there. Walking on the creek sand, they see the colours and walk down to the water hole and Read more…
Jartuti “Jartuti water place east of Parnngurr. In pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) days old people walked and hunted there, we went there recently with KJ (Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa) ranger mob, lovely place.” – Beverley Rogers Jartuti is a water source located close to Parnngurr Aboriginal Community (otherwise known as Cotton Creek), and Read more…
Linyji “This linyji (claypan) story, it’s about when the old people used to be living in the desert, a long, long time ago- thousands of years ago. They used to make a hole in the linyjii for the wilyki (seed), using the wind to separate the seed [from the husk; winnowing]. Also, when we used Read more…
Wildflowers This work depicts the remarkably diverse flora found through Martu Country. These plants are not only vital as significant food sources, but also celebrated for their aesthetic splendour. In the context of the often harsh and arid environments in which desert flowers bloom, their vibrancy, delicacy, and variation become Read more…
Untitled “Sand dunes, going into Punmu from Telfer side. Long sand dunes, short sand dunes.” – Judith Aspro The traditional lands of the Martu people encompass the Great Sandy Desert and Rudall River regions of Western Australia, an enormous tract dominated by distinctive red tali or tuwa (sandhills). These sandhills Read more…
Jartuti “Jartuti water place east of Parnngurr. In pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) days old people walked and hunted there, we went there recently with KJ (Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa) ranger mob, lovely place.” – Beverley Rogers Jartuti is a water source located close to Parnngurr Aboriginal Community (otherwise known as Cotton Creek), and Read more…
