Waru (fire) “My painting is about waru, fire. In my grandfathers country they have spinifex, and they burn it, it was an everyday thing for our old people. They used to clean the land, burn, hunt for bushtucker, for goanna, for all bush food. This painting is part of Tayiku, Read more…
Kulyakartu “This painting represents my families country and how we are part of it too. It’s Kulyakartu, the tuwa (Sandhills), the grass….it’s a grassland. It’s from an inspiration of me from when I went on a KJ trip with Nyamu Muuki and Nana Nola. It was a good experience seeing Read more…
Linyji (Claypan) “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 Read more…
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…
Pitu “I paint Pitu because my father come[s] from Pitu and all the rest of the family, they belong to there. Family hear the stories all the time from Jakayu [Biljabu]. It’s their connection to that place. All the old people were walking through that area, aunty Jakayu was born Read more…
Rockhole 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 present an unforgiving landscape; sparse vegetation covers a seemingly never ending expanse of dunes, and yet these Read more…
Rockholes 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 present an unforgiving landscape; sparse vegetation covers a seemingly never ending expanse of dunes, and yet these Read more…
Yilyara Yilyara is one of several frequently visited yinta (permanent springs) located in the Country immediately surrounding Punmu Aboriginal community. Yilyara is located immediately east of Nyayartakujarra (Lake Dora), a vast and culturally significant salt lake in the north east section of the Karlamilyi River (Rudall River) region. Surrounding the Read more…
Kalurru Kalurru is a large spring located in Karlamilyi National Park. During the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) period, Martu would traverse very large distances annually in small family groups, moving seasonally from water source to water source, and hunting and gathering bush tucker as they went. At this time knowledge Read more…
Claypans This work depicts a linyji (claypan) within the artists’ ngurra (home Country, camp), typically represented with circular forms. Claypans were visited more often during the wet seasons as they filled with water. During the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) period, knowledge of water sources was critical for survival, and today Read more…