Desert Song

4 April – 21 May 2014

The extraordinary growth of Aboriginal art into the wider world of the art market has been partly explained by the deep sense of spiritual identity and connectedness that it imparts to the viewer.

The source of this unexplained strength in communicating meaning across wide cultural differences stems from the core of the paintings being embedded in ceremonial traditions and Dreaming mythologies, that are at the heart and identity of Aboriginal cultures.

Traditional cultures use song to embody ancient narratives and to celebrate and renew time-honoured accounts of Creation stories that tie the custodian people in with the sites and the country where the creation journeys took place.

The term Songlines is used to describe the long metaphysical narration lines that criss-cross the Australian landscape and bind locations and Aboriginal peoples, provides the deepest link between traditional people and the stories that they inherit.

The ceremonies, dances and songs are passed down as an expression of the people’s identity.

So when Aboriginal artists are tapping into their stories, they do so with a sense of cultural integrity linked to personal identity.

The exhibition ‘Desert Song’ brings together a significant group of women artists from across the Western and Central Desert.  Their artistic themes underpin the idea that song exists at the core of the stories being expressed in their paintings. The song is the meaning of the painting and the identity of the singer.

Amongst the twenty five major artists exhibiting are Esther Giles Nampitjinpa, Lorna Ward Napanangka, Walangkura Napanangka, Yinarupa Gibson Nangala, Ningura Napurrula, Eileen Napaltjarri and Minnie Pwerle. Desert Song will be on exhibition in Gallery1 at Japingka Gallery, from 4^th April to 21^st May 2014.

Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links:

• Minnie Pwerle
• Walangkura Napanangka
• Yinarupa Gibson Nangala
• Eileen Napaltjarri
• Ningura Napurrula 
• Abie Loy Kemarre
• Maisie Campbell Napaltjarri
• Makinti Napanangka
• Judy Watson Napangardi
• Lindy Syddick Napaltjarri
• Eubena Nampitjin
• Betty Mbitjana Mpetyane
• Mitjili Napurrula
• Anna Petyarre
• Maureen Hudson Nampijinpa