Tjanpi Desert Weavers

The fibre art movement that has spread across the Western and Central Desert now represents the creative output of over 400 women artists on the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands. This social Enterprise provides income streams for artists and their families in 26 remote Desert communities across a vast área of 350,000 square kilometers in the tri-state región of Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia.

The process of collecting natural materials from the land is often combined with other cultural maintenance projects. In the words of senior artist Kunbry Pei Pei  “I want to pay homage to a more traditional way of thinking and making things.” The artists créate images of the animals they share this land with including emus, goannas, birds, camels, dogs and bandicoots.

Sculptures by Tjanpi Desert Weavers will be on display from 25 May to 11 July 2018 at Japingka Gallery, Fremantle.