Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

Painted Mug

Untitled “When Martu paint, it’s like a map. Martu draw story on the ground and on the canvas, and all the circle and line there are the hunting areas and different waters and tracks where people used to walk, and [some you] can’t cross, like boundaries. So nowadays you see Read more…

Jarntinti – Mayiwalku May Chapman “This is a linyji (claypan). We find kalaru (seed used for making damper from samphire bush) there that we collect. Too much good tucker!”   – Mayiwalku May Chapman Jarntinti is a large claypan at the Southern end of Nyayartakujarra (Lake Dora), a large salt lake Read more…

Bush Tucker Bush tucker continues to be regularly eaten by Martu people. Martu regularly hunt for marlu (plain kangaroo), kirti-kirti (hill kangaroo), various species of goanna including parngarra, bush turkey (kipara) and camel. Smaller creatures such as wuukarta (honey ants) and lungki (witchety grubs) are a delicacy and are highly Read more…

Untitled This work portrays an area known intimately to the artist, painted here in exquisite detail from memory. During the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era one’s survival depended on their intimate knowledge of the location of resources; thus physical elements of Country, such as sources of kapi (water), tali (sandhills), Read more…

Untitled “When Martu paint, it’s like a map. Martu draw story on the ground and on the canvas, and all the circle and line there are the hunting areas and different waters and tracks where people used to walk, and [some you] can’t cross, like boundaries. So nowadays you see Read more…

Untitled This painting portrays physical elements of Martu Country, such as the dominant tali (sandhills), warta (trees, vegetation), and water sources. Rock holes, waterholes, soaks and springs were all extremely important sites for Martu people during the pujiman (nomadic bush) era, with many important jukurrpa (dreamtime stories) chronicling the creation Read more…

Untitled This painting portrays physical elements of Martu Country, such as the dominant tali (sandhills), warta (trees, vegetation), and water sources. Rock holes, waterholes, soaks and springs were all extremely important sites for Martu people during the pujiman (nomadic bush) era, with many important jukurrpa (dreamtime stories) chronicling the creation Read more…

Untitled “When Martu paint, it’s like a map. Martu draw story on the ground and on the canvas, and all the circle and line there are the hunting areas and different waters and tracks where people used to walk, and [some you] can’t cross, like boundaries. So nowadays you see Read more…

Lake Disappointment (Kumpupirntily) “That’s near Puntawarr, other side is Kumpupirntily (Lake Disappointment), big salt lake. That’s all the kapi (water), and all the salt in the lake. All around are yapu (rocks/ hills).” This painting depicts Lake Disappointment near Puntawari. Dunes and green grasses surround the large salt lake. Kumpupirntily is one Read more…