Exhibition
Stories from our spirit – Nyunmiti Burton, Sylvia Ken and Barbara Moore – Tjala Arts
Where
Outstation Gallery8 Parap Place
Parap, 0820
Darwin, Northern Territory
Art Centres
This exhibition is brought to you by Outstation, in collaboration with the following art centres:
Artists
- Barbara Mbitjana Moore
- Nyunmiti Burton
- Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken
‘We are all about the same age. I was born in 1960, Sylvia 1965 and Barbara 1964. We are all mothers and grandmothers and we have been taught by our parents, grandmothers and grandfathers. We are painters and we love to paint. We may have different styles, use different colours or paint with different techniques but what underpins all our paintings is the same – it is our country and our Tjukurpa.
When I paint, I think about my country. Some parts are so special, so sacred, that they need to be covered.
My paintings often look like clouds; they cover the landscape, revealing only parts of the story that can be told. When I paint I think about the past and about the future. I think about my ngura, where me, my children and grandchildren live. I think about the stories my father and grandparents shared with us. And I also think about my children and grandchildren’s future, the next generation.’
– NYUNMITI BURTON
‘I listen to the old people’s stories and then ideas come from my paintings.
I listen to my mother and my father to my grandmother and my grandfather.
I listen when they are talking about Tjukurpa and telling creation stories. They were the ones who said “no, you should paint this way, the seven sister’s stories.” And so I listened.
I start my paintings with a drawing of the rockholes, they are linked together. I add other important sites that are part of the country. This place I paint is my family’s side of the country where the sisters travelled through Cave Hill and Alkunyunyta, all the way through to Kuli. This is tjukupra mulapa.’
– SYLVIA KEN
‘‘I grew up in Amoonguna and my father’s country is near Ti Tree in the Northern Territory but I moved the Amata when I got married. I have stayed here ever since. When I paint my mind travels back to my home and through my painting I stay connected to my home in the NT even though I’m far away.
My style of painting is a little different to Nyunmiti’s and Sylvia’s. My paintings are fast. I love colour and I use fat brushes and think paint. I am a happy woman, my paintings reflect that in me and the way I paint suits me and who I am, much like Nyunmiti’s and Sylvia’s way reflects them.
When we paint we feel strong and happy. These paintings make us proud.
Nyunmiti, Sylvia and myself work hard at our paintings. We love to be in studio working on our exhibitions and projects and we do it because we love our family, we want to see them healthy and happy, because this is the future for Anangu.’
– BARBARA MOORE