Exhibitions

Anne McMaster

Anne McMaster continues her exploration of the natural habitats of the Tiwi Islands including coastal mangroves and coral. Other elements that influence her work are the changing nature of the seasons and the beautiful Island light. These works were created in early 2019 as Anne prepares her departure from Melville Island after many years.

Warlukurlangu Artists

This month we have delved into the archives to reveal classic etchings by senior Warlukurlangu artists Shorty Jangala Robertson, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, Paddy  Japaljarri Sims and Rosie Nangala Flemming.  The artists are recognised for their bold colour and strong traditional iconography. The paintings tell the story of the artists’ connection to their country, the features of the landscape, the plants and animals that are found there and the creation stories from the Dreamtime.

Each artist has his or her own particular style and distinctive colour palette. The artists love to experiment with different techniques ensuring that the artworks and styles are constantly evolving.

Sand stories and other collections

This month we are focusing on historical suites and collections. Works include an exciting series of six ceremonial body paint designs from Kaltjiti Arts, a collection of the first screenprints produced at mimili maku and an amazing folio of milpatjunanyi – sand stories by Nura Rupert and Nungalka (Tjaria) Stanley from Ernabella Arts.

Milpatjunanyi – telling stories in the sand

Telling stories by drawing in the sand is the domain of women and girls among the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara speaking peoples of the desert country of central Australia.

These etching suites are a contemporary expression of an ancient, deeply held cultural practice. The stories are told in the sand on which the people sit – the ground across which they walk – and the land that has sustained them for thousands of years – providing the materials and subject matter for telling life’s big and small stories.

Traditionally these stories were often told in the evening, as family groups settled down for sleep in their transitory camp. One woman would take her mi/pa, the stick with which she beats the rhythm of the story, and with the other start drawing in the sand, episode by episode, smoothing the sand after each, until the story’s end.

View the Milpatjunanyi folio catalogue

View the Wati Ngintaka folio catalogue

Inma-ku Walka – Body design for Ceremony

These etchings are based on the imagery used for body painting during traditional lnma (traditional ceremonial dance). The designs are painted across the chest and breasts.

Other Nomad Art collections include:

Replant: A new generation of Botanical Art
Burning Bright from the Djalkiri Project
Custodians: Country & Culture
I am Tiwi
Waringarri Suite
Kunwarrde Bim – Injalak Hill Suite
Bardayal Bim
Yalangbara Suite

Reveal – from the collection

We have been busy looking through the archive and continually uploading exciting prints to the Nomad Art website.

Reveal includes etching, silkscreen and woodcut prints produced over the last 15 years by artists from the Central Desert, Kimberley, Arnhem Land, Tiwi Islands and Darwin.

View the works on the online gallery:

Man, Woman, Child, etching by Rhonda Sharpe

Untitled, woodcut by Mary Thomas

Barrwan Baru, reduction woodcut by Sandy Pascoe

Kalipinyapa, etching by Narlie Nakamarra

Wangupini, silkscreen by Nawurapu Wunungmurra

Jilamara, etching by Pedro Wonaeamirri