Cotton Apron Dig Print-SWA150

2013 Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award finalist Susan Wanji Wanji grew up in Maningrida and as a young girl learnt to make bark paintings and intricately woven mats and baskets. Susan has since a unique style that has influence from both Tiwi and Arnhem Land cultures. In 1992 Susan Wanji Wanji travelled to Paris representing Munupi Arts

Cotton Apron Dig Print-KBU936

Cotton Apron Dig Print-KBU942

Cotton Tea Towel - Digital Print - 62.5cm x 42.5cm-DYM975

This is a very detailed painting which describes a dry time of year in Damien’s homeland, Mount Liebig. The painting illustrates aspects of landscape and culture around that area that was told to Damien by his great-grandmother and great- grandfather. There are women sitting with their children collecting bush potatoes (the mass of red shapes at the bottom of the painting). The women are talking and getting ready for a ceremony. There is one man (wati) sitting down with his waru (spear). The spinifex is dry and so the man is walking around making bushfires. He is a good man, he is undertaking controlled burnings so the spinifex burns up and then good fruits can grow after this. There are several symbols in this painting. The small sun-like symbols represent women's body painting these are the images the women are painting on each other as they sit down ready for inma traditional ceremony. There is a dry creek bed running through the painting (in red and white), and there are cracks in the ground and claypans. There are also dried rockholes (tjukula), and next to them are tali sandhills.

Cotton Tea Towel - Digital Print - 62.5cm x 42.5cm-MNM652

In this Dreaming story, two dog ancestors, a Jampijinpa and a Napangardi, travelled from the west to the east. At Tapu (a rockhole), the two dogs separated. The female dog, Napangardi, went to the south. The male dog, Jampijinpa, went to the north. Eventually he became lonely and howled for Napangardi in the south. She came running to him, and they married each other at Ngarnka. They wore men's and women's marriage headdresses, and Jampijinpa painted himself with white clay for the ceremony. The two dogs continued running east, before arriving in Warlaku (Ali Curung). Many other dogs were living in Warlaku when they arrived. There were many families of dogs, mothers and fathers and children and uncles all living together. Jampijinpa and Napangardi made a burrow to rest in and started a big family of dogs there. They chose to stay in Warlaku and live with all the other dogs. In this way, the malikijarra Jukurrpa (two dogs Dreaming) tells the story of proper conduct in families and marriages.

Cotton Tea Towel - Digital Print - 62.5cm x 42.5cm-ROR417

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit. This artwork shows some of the many plants in the landscape. these plants have a high level of significance for the local people, being useful as medicine, or as food for people or for wildlife.

Cotton Tea Towel - Digital Print - 62.5cm x 42.5cm-MNM600

In this Dreaming story, two dog ancestors, a Jampijinpa and a Napangardi, travelled from the west to the east. At Tapu (a rockhole), the two dogs separated. The female dog, Napangardi, went to the south. The male dog, Jampijinpa, went to the north. Eventually he became lonely and howled for Napangardi in the south. She came running to him, and they married each other at Ngarnka. They wore men’s and women's marriage headdresses, and Jampijinpa painted himself with white clay for the ceremony. The two dogs continued running east, before arriving in Warlaku (Ali Curung). Many other dogs were living in Warlaku when they arrived. There were many families of dogs, mothers and fathers and children and uncles all living together. Jampijinpa and Napangardi made a burrow to rest in and started a big family of dogs there. They chose to stay in Warlaku and live with all the other dogs. In this way, the malikijarra Jukurrpa (two dogs Dreaming) tells the story of proper conduct in families and marriages

Cotton Tea Towel – Digital Print – 62.5cm x 42.5cm-JWO826

Julie is telling the story of two sisters travelling through her mother’s country towards Docker River, Northern Territory. They stopped at Ilkuwaratjara and cut a wana (digging sIck). The punu (wood) was really straight. The little sister was gettng homesick, but the big sister said; “No, I am taking you to meet your family.” Along the way they were digging for kuka (meat such as goanna) and Niny (Bilby). They got kuka and they were happy to have a good feed. The ‘U’ shapes are the sisters. Next to them are their wana or digging sick. The circles represent rock or water holes where water collects after the rains.

Cotton Tea Towel - Digital Print - 62.5cm x 42.5cm-AAD998

This is the story of the seven sisters. The sisters fled from Wati Nyiru creating the country and landscape around Andrea’s home, Mala. They created the rockhole’s, sandhills and rocky outcrops as they tried to escape. The women flew up into the sky. Now, Wati Nyiru can be seen as Orion in the sky and the sisters are the Pleiades constellation.