COUNTRY TO COUTURE 

‘Tnuntha nurnakanha’ (Our Animals)
The new generation of watercolour artists are innovative, explorative and are guiding the Hermannsburg School of Art movement in their own direction by speaking to what influences their lives in this current social environment and life as they experience it.
This project was an opportunity to engage younger emerging artists by encouraging them to explore their interest in textile design as a creative medium. Iltja Njtarra’s Senior artists and mentors Dellina Inkamala and Vanessa Inkamala, along with emerging Iltja Ntjarra artists, Dianne Inkamala, Delray Inkamala and Mandy Malbunka worked on this project in collaboration with APM Employment and Disability services participants, Rhonda Jones, Teresa Wilson, Lucinda Forrest, Amanda Long and Leah Johnson.
I’ve just started learning how to paint animals and landscape. It’s hard, but when I painted my Emus and birds in bright colours on the fabric, I thought they turned out really good, so I kept painting more and more. Now I love painting emus and birds. I think my designs are Marra inthurra (very good). I’m going to feel proud when I see them on the runway.-Mandy Malbunka

The collection itself was led by Iltja Ntjarra’s Project Manager Koren Wheatley in the capacity as designer, with the help of seamstress Nghia Pham, who worked closely with the artists to achieve a collection that reflected their creative initiative.

What a pleasure to be part of this contemporary platform of cultural storytelling. It was wonderful to see everyone come together on Larrakia Country to celebrate this special event, we had an absolute blast.  We would like to thank all the team @darwinartfair and @indigenousfashionprojects. This wouldn't have been possible without their tireless work and dedication.

Photo by Marley Morgan
 

Telstra NATSIAA

Image: Marisa standing in front of finalist, Stanley Ebatarinja's work titled: Kids to be safe.

Stanley Ebatartinja’s repurposed road sign speaks about grief, loss and caring for children. In recent years there has been a number of tragic road accidents in Mparntwe and surrounding areas. One terrible accident occurred last year on Gap Road. A young pedestrian with close links to Ntaria Community was killed in area with poor lighting. The sign depicts the site of Naripe (Heavitree Gap), close to where the tragedy occurred. This work also speaks about family and worry for young children, an assertion of the love Aboriginal families have for their children. In recent months Mparntwe has been on the news for all the wrong reasons. Young children have been getting in trouble with the police with some ending up in custody. Kids doing wrong things in town Kids on country better Kids to be safe In this work the children are reclaimed by country, taken back to their ancestral places where they can grow up healthy and strong, free from the troubles of town. The use of repurposed road signs refers to the way country is named, and boundaries have been drawn since colonisation. Stanley has reclaimed the sign as a powerful message to the next generation.

FEATURED ARTISTS
New works from emerging artists, Mandy Malbunka and Wayne Armstrong are now available on our website