It tells the story of two sisters travelling through the desert. As they travelled,
their actions created landmarks such as rock holes and mountain ranges,
forging a record of their travels across the land. Elsie's work references a part of
this songline which passes close by to Kaltukatjara (Docker River), where the
bodies of the sisters formed the distinctive red mountains rising above the gap
created by the karu (river).
Her detailed works contain abstracted forms of landmarks such as mountains,
waterholes, creeks and rocks, as well as incorporating Western desert
iconography.
Elsie paints important tjukurpa (dreaming stories) from around the Docker River
area, with a particular focus on the Kungka Kutjara (Two Sisters) songline.
Elsie Edimintja is an established artist who was born at Areyonga (Utju), but now lives
in Kaltukatjara (Docker River). Elsie paints important Tjukurpa (Dreaming stories) from
around the Docker River area, with a particular focus on the Kungka Kutjara (Two
Sisters) songline which passes through the mountains close to Kaltukatjara.
Her family's country is Tjunti, where the explorer Lasseter was abandoned by his
camels and lived for several months being fed and cared for by local Anangu. Elsie also
paints dreaming stories relating to the Tjunti area. Elsie is one of five children who all
paint with Kaltukatjara Art.
Elsie's canvases are characterised by harmonious colour work and intricate layers of
detail; it can take her several weeks to complete large canvases as she works carefully
to create areas of varied texture and tone.
In 2021, Elsie participated in the Artists in Residency program at the Gallery of Central
Australia, an experience which she found enjoyable and helpful in developing her
practice.