Nganampa Kililpil: Our Stars is the first major survey exhibition from the artists of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunyjatjara (APY) Lands of central Australia – and it’s well worth the hike.
This FREE exhibition brings together more than 100 artists from across the APY Lands, who share the unique cultural and artistic traditions of the region. These richly coloured, dynamic and powerful works articulate the central themes of Tjukurpa (Law), Ngura (Country), and Inma (ceremony), telling of Anangu creation stories, the landscape and its important sites.
The vibrant women’s collaborative painting (pictured) was created by 24 artists, and focuses on the Seven Sisters Dreaming – one of the most significant shared creation stories of the APY Lands.
Nyurpaya Kaika Burton from Tjala Arts says of the painting, “In this canvas is our story. We have these stories in our heart and inside us. This makes us strong.
This is for the next generation, so they can strongly hold the stories like we do.”
The APY Lands is a vast area located in remote South Australia returned to the traditional owners in 1981.
Other works in the exhibition incorporate techniques that go beyond the well-known dotting and stippling methods in capturing the many undulations of the significant stories, topography and sites of the region.
Nganampa Kililpil: Our Stars is on until December 11 and is a partnership project between Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and the artists and art centres of the APY Lands.
