Irrunytju Arts Centre
Encyclopedia
Irrunytju Arts is an Indigenous Australian art centre based in the community of Irrunytju (Wingellina), Western Australia
. Irrunytju is situated near the tri-state border of the Northern Territory
, Western Australia
and South Australia
, approximately 720km south-west of Alice Springs. The landscape is arid, dry and very remote. The Irrunytju artists and their families will often travel through the country of their ancestors to hunt for food, collect plants for bush medicine
, and grass and seeds for basket weaving and jewellery making.
The Irrunytju art centre was established in 2001. Before this, some of the community members were already producing paintings. But when the art centre was opened, many community members attended daily to paint their tjukurpa(dreamtime) stories.
Irrunytju Arts is now well established and the artists are known for producing vibrant and colourful canvases which depict a variety of tjukurpa, heavily related to the landscape of the surrounding country and its history. Some Irrunytju artists, particularly Yannima Tommy Watson
, are represented in prominent private and public collections, both in Australia and internationally.
The art centre has supported over 30 artists, including Wingu Tingima, Alkawari Dawson, Patju Presley and Yannima Tommy Watson
(who now works independently), as well as Jorna Newberry, Kuntjil Cooper, Karrika Belle Davidson, Ivy Laidlaw, Tjayanka Woods, Myra Cook, Anmanari Brown, Angampa Martin and Roma Butler.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Irrunytju is situated near the tri-state border of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, approximately 720km south-west of Alice Springs. The landscape is arid, dry and very remote. The Irrunytju artists and their families will often travel through the country of their ancestors to hunt for food, collect plants for bush medicine
Bush medicine
Bush medicine is the term used in Australia by Aboriginal people to describe their traditional medicinal knowledge and practices. The term is often used in conjunction with Bush tucker....
, and grass and seeds for basket weaving and jewellery making.
The Irrunytju art centre was established in 2001. Before this, some of the community members were already producing paintings. But when the art centre was opened, many community members attended daily to paint their tjukurpa(dreamtime) stories.
Irrunytju Arts is now well established and the artists are known for producing vibrant and colourful canvases which depict a variety of tjukurpa, heavily related to the landscape of the surrounding country and its history. Some Irrunytju artists, particularly Yannima Tommy Watson
Yannima Tommy Watson
Yannima Tommy Watson is a senior Pitjantjatjara man from Australia’s central western desert who has become a significant contemporary Indigenous Australian artist...
, are represented in prominent private and public collections, both in Australia and internationally.
The art centre has supported over 30 artists, including Wingu Tingima, Alkawari Dawson, Patju Presley and Yannima Tommy Watson
Yannima Tommy Watson
Yannima Tommy Watson is a senior Pitjantjatjara man from Australia’s central western desert who has become a significant contemporary Indigenous Australian artist...
(who now works independently), as well as Jorna Newberry, Kuntjil Cooper, Karrika Belle Davidson, Ivy Laidlaw, Tjayanka Woods, Myra Cook, Anmanari Brown, Angampa Martin and Roma Butler.