Angiliya Mitchell Australian, Pitjantjatjara, b. 1953
Kampukuta: The older sister, 2025
acrylic on canvas
122 x 156 cm
80-25
Recording with Angilyiya: OK yes so who are we talking about? On my canvas I have painted those women who were perpetually followed by the man known as Nyiru. It...
Recording with Angilyiya: OK yes so who are we talking about? On my canvas I have painted those women who were perpetually followed by the man known as Nyiru. It was Nyiru who was always following them. And the women were on the run. So along here, he chased and chased and chased and broke the bones of one of the women. And so the others looked after her, caring, caring at that place Kuru Ala, there in the white rock cave. They looked after her there and then set off again. He had followed and followed and followed and hit her. The women watched from their hiding places, those women there. This woman – I’ve painted her using this symbol here. Her. All the women were keeping watch as they hid. The seven women who travelled. Seven sisters. But they were followed by only one man, Nyiru. He followed them, frightening them and they would leap up terrified when they saw him. They’d run away scared and then settle down again off in another place. They would set up camp again somewhere else. They’d be stopping somewhere but then again he would find them. The man would make another appearance. They were terrified by his constant pursuit. Who was the man in question? Well it was Nyiru of course. Following, following, following, they camped at the site Kuru Ala – camping, camping, camping and then headed off again. The women were looking after the oldest sister. Caring for her because her shins had been broken. So they had to care for her and then eventually they got up and left. Kept travelling, travelling – they were always on the move. They went to Country to the west. They were followed and followed and followed. They were endlessly pursued, travelling to a place in the north. Yes – it was in the direction north. They journeyed and journeyed, pursued the whole time. These women here, these dear ones – I’ve painted them here, I’ve created this painting of my grandmother’s, mother’s and grandfather’s Country, the dear things, I’ve painted these designs here of those who have been lost. Here they are here in the image and it is their Tjukurpa that I’ve been voicing now, the dear things. All my grandmothers travelling through. Seven women. Plus the man – so altogether there are eight. That man followed them everywhere. Those poor things were chased all over and that is where the man crouched. This is the Tjukurpa! Yes. Papulankutja was established after Ngaayatjarra people walked out of Warburton mission in the 1970s and returned to their land.
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