Details of Iyawi Wikilyiri
About
Iyawi was born in the bush near Ernabella around 1945. She did some schooling at the Ernabella Mission before working in the craft room where traditional spinning skills were combined with new techniques to develop a small scale carpet making industry. Iyawi's mother was a Yankunytjatjara woman from Ernabella and her father was a Pitjantjatjara man from Pukura. Iyawi paints Pukura which is her fathers country and where she spent a lot of her childhood. Iyawi now lives with her husband Ginger Wikilyiri.
Iyawi WIkilyiri paints Pukara, an important Tjukurpa for Wati Kutjara, the two serpent men. These wanampi's are involved in creating landmarks across vast tracts of the desert from Pukara in the tri-state border region of Western Australia.
Her vibranlty coloured works depict a relationship to country that is very much alive. They represent a spiritual dimension that is not confined to the past, but is still active between the land, plants,animals, the people and ancestral beings.
TJUNGU PALYA
Located about 100 kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country originally owned by the Pitjanjatjara people. These ranges, known to the Anangu as Murputja, likening the mountain to a bony ridge of a person's spine, are the source of many waterholes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements. Over 50 artists from Marputja joined together with family members living in traditional country 180 kms to the south of Watarru and created Tjungu Palya (Good Together).
Tjungu Palya is 100% owned and maanged by Aboriginal people, ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained int he community. Tjungu Palya promotes cultural integrity and the ethical sales of authentic art.
MEDIUM
Acrylic on canvas
THEMES
Pukara
Kapi Tjukula
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 Western APY Lands, ArtKelch, Freiburg, Germany
2011 Tjungu Palya-Masterpieces, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2011 'Green' Outstation Gallery, Darwin NT
2011 Tjungu Palya 2011, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2010 Nganana Uwankaraka Tjukurpa Palyani Tjukurpa Mulapa-We are painting these sacred stories for you', Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2010 Ngarayanyi Kunpu - Standing Strong, Aboriginal & Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2010 Inma Mantangka Ngarinyi- Song of the Land, Putipula Gallery, Noosa QLD
2010 Our MOb, Adelaide Festival Centre, SA
2010 Tjungu Palya Survey Show , Short St Gallery, Broome ,WA
2010 Partnerships' Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2010 Senior Artists- Important New Works, Randell LAne Fine Art, Perth, WA
2010 Raft Launch, Raft Artspace Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2009 Our Mob Adelaide Festival Centre, SA
2009 Alwara-wara Side by Side Outstation, Darwin, NT
2009 Kulini Ngura - Knowing Country Short St Gallery, Broome WA
2009 'Wanampiku Munu Kalayaku Ngura' Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2008 'Iwara Mantangka - Land Lines' Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2008 'Expressions of Cultural Connection: Evolution of Aboriginal Artists' The American Club, ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 'Tjungu Palyaku Warka Nyuwana' ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 'Our Mob' Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2008 'Tjukurpa Kutjupa Kutjupa Tjuta', Aboriginal and Pacific Arts
2008 'Tjukurpa Kunpu', Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2008 'Womens Show', Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2008 'Manta Nyangatja Pitjantjatjara' Short st Gallery, Broome, WA
2007 'Desert Mob', Araluen Gallery, Alice Spings, NT
2007 'Our Mob', Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2007 'Pittati', Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2007 'Skin to Skin', Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT
2006 'Utulu Kuwaritja Amatala Nguru', ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2006 'Tjukurpa Manatja', Randall Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
COllections
Artbank, Australian Government National COntemporary Art Rental
Bibliographies
2010 Bevis, Stephen. 'Exhibition overshadowed by death' The West Australian, March 17 2010.
