Artitja Gallery showcases art from Australia's oldest continuously operating Indigenous art centre

Artitja Fine Art Gallery’s latest exhibition will be landing March 12, showcasing unique ceramics and paintings from Australia's oldest continuously operating Indigenous art centre, Ernabella Arts.

Kungarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) by Tjunkaya Tapaya

ANANYI NYURAKUTU, translated to ‘going home,’ is an exhibition with a focus on return to Country, and the legacy of the artists as they pass their artistic knowledge and cultural traditions on to younger generations. Originating from the South Australian community of Pukatja in the far north-west desert region, Ernabella Arts' first creations were hand-loomed woven fabrics including hand pulled and knotted floor rugs with a unique pattern that became known as ‘the Ernabella walka’. This region, known as the APY Lands (short for the Anangu people of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara language groups), is also well known for its unique stoneware vessels. A selection of pots will be included in the exhibition, showcasing distinctive techniques like Terra sigillata and sgraffito, a scratching technique that creates contrasting and patterns. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2021/03/Langaliki-Lewis-14x13cm-Ngayuku-Ngura-ART26C21-resized.jpg|Ngayuku Ngura by Langaliki Lewis,https://media.localista.com.au/2021/03/Lynette-Lewis-15x12cm-Nyinantu-honey-ant-tunnels-ART32C21LL.jpg|Nyinantu (honey ant tunnels) by Lynette Lewis "] Artists Atipalku Intjalki and Yurpiya Lionel have painted with Ernabella Art Centre for more than fifty years, and take on the responsibility of passing sacred knowledge and traditional teachings from generation to generation, as Intjalki’s father did before them.

Anumara by Yurpiya Lionel 

Since opening in 1948, Ernabella Arts has evolved into a culturally strong contemporary art centre which has resulted in a global reputation for its fine art excellence and ANANYI NYURAKUTU will guide visitors through the evolution of traditional APY paintings, ceramics and ‘Ernabella walka’ into the elegant contemporary pieces of today.

By Atipalku Intjalki

This inspiring exhibition opens March 12 and runs to Monday, April 5 (Easter Monday) at Earlyworks, located at 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle. Gallery opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm.

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