I Know My Country exhibition

Australia is very remote, especially for communities residing inland such as Pukayiyirna on the Canning Stock Route, or Kulyakartu in the Martu homelands who are having to travel in excess of 1500kms from Perth to get there. And that’s just within WA. Artitja Fine Art Gallery is bringing those places and their stories to South Fremantle through striking imagery with their forthcoming exhibition I Know My Country which opens on the 13th March.

Athena Nangala Granites 91x76cm Seven Sisters Dreaming

Over twenty artists from eight remote Aboriginal art communities feature in this energetic, bold selection of paintings which incorporate profound knowledge of country by the artists. “In our sixteenth year of presenting exhibitions, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Aboriginal artists who share so much of their knowledge of country and expertise with wider Australia and not only allow but welcome us to display their stories on our walls” says Gallery Director Anna Kanaris.

Bugai Whyoulter 152x91cm Untitled

Accompanying stories range from seeing ‘whitefellas’ for the first time and include happy memories of being taught how and where to find different types of foods as well as where the good places to hunt were.

Mrs N. Giles 147x122cm Warmurrungu

More contemporary themes are captured by younger artists such as Judith Anya Samson’s Rabbit Proof Fence with Camp Spots. Judith likes painting the fence because in her words “Everybody likes that story in Jigalong. I like painting that story”. “The artists’ generosity means that we can continue to learn about Aboriginal history and culture through the paintings, and of course at the same time, revel in the beauty of the art” says Anna Kanaris.

Derek Butt 91x61cm Kulyakartu

To take a bright, colourful journey through the Great Sandy, Tanami and Gibson deserts and beyond, head to the exhibition which opens at Earlywork in South Fremantle on Friday 13th March and runs to Sunday 5th April.

Feature Image Credit: David Miller, Wati Ngintaka munu Minyma Tjirilya.

See More Aboriginal Exhibitions

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