Nganampa Tjukurpa Ananyi Wilurara : Our Stories Are Going West

Short St Gallery presents Nganampa Tjukurpa Ananyi, which translates to Our Stories Are Going Out West. The exhibition showcases the formidable Rachael Mipantjiti Lionel who is a rising star in the art world. She approaches her paintings with a contemporary style that reaches the ephemeral while maintaining a keen eye on detail and structure. She paints the messages and stories she receives in dreams. Rachael is the third generation of Lionel women to work at Pukatja community. She began painting in 2006 and since then her notoriety has grown. She has been a finalist in National Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Awards twice, her painting has been acquired by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Artbank and the National Museum of Australia. She was a Highly Commended Finalist in the John Fries Award and has become a widely collected artists, with her artworks being exhibited in Brussels, the USA and around Australia. 

Rachael is supported by fellow Pukatja artists; Lynette Lewis, Michelle Lewis, Janice Stanley, Carlene Thompson, Imiyari Adamson, Imatjala Lewis, Alison Lionel and Derek Thompson. Pukatja is in the far north west of South Australia and was the first permanent settlement on the APY Lands. The community established a craft room in 1948 which went on to become Ernabella Arts, making Ernabella Arts Australia’s oldest continually run Indigenous art centre. The artists predominately depict their Tjukurpa (sacred stories of country and law) and are known for their inimitable style and craftsmanship. The community has maintained and supported a strong art community for over 60 years, with artists from the centre often pursuing many different mediums, many becoming master painters and ceramists. Ernabella has become infamous for their highly collected and exquisite ceramics. Short St Gallery is excited to bring you, Our Stories Are Going Out West, which presents incredible contemporary paintings and ceramics seeped in Tjukurpa.