Jan Murphy Gallery will present an exhibition featuring artwork from the acclaimed Tjala Arts centre in Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. In a first for both organisations, the upcoming show will solely focus on artists from Tjala Arts, providing a platform for their works in Queensland.
Seven Sisters will feature new works by the Ken Sisters Collaborative (Tjungkara Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin and Sandra Ken), plus individual works by Sylvia Ken and Tjungkara Ken. The Seven Sisters Story is a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellation of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Each of the works in the exhibition will be about this Creation Story.
Recognised as contemporary painters who are at the forefront of the Western Desert movement, their importance in the Australian cultural landscape has been cemented over recent years, with members of the group being finalists and winners in several major awards, including the Archibald and Wynne Prize. The Ken Sisters Collaborative won the Wynne Prize 2016 and Tjungkara Ken was a finalist in the Archibald Prize in both 2016 and 2017.
Known for their vibrant use of colour and energetic mark making, works by Tjala artists are held in numerous public institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank and the Art Gallery of South Australia. The Ken Sisters Collaborative are currently in the 2018 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art.
MORE ABOUT TJALA ARTS
Established in 1999, Tjala Arts is located in Amata community, in far north-west South Australia on the APY Lands. An Aboriginal owned and managed corporation, Tjala Arts boasts an exciting exhibition program supporting established, mid-career and emerging artists.
Image: Ken Sisters Collaborative 2017, Courtesy of Tjala Arts
