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Wakapulkatjara Tie by Molly Miller
“When I was a little girl we walked everywhere, there were no motorcars then. Always walking, around and around, and around. This is a happy place for me. Looking after children, lots of rabbits, lots of maku (witchetty grub), lots of honey ants. We were really happy back then. This is a beautiful place.” – Molly Miller
In this painting, Miller depicts the rocky Country surrounding her birthplace, Wakapulkatjara, southeast of Papulankutja (Blackstone) on the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands.
As she paints, Miller recalls her travels between Papulankutja and Manturmaru, traversing puli (rocky outcrops) and tali (sand hills) and stopping at rockholes related to her father’s Tjukurrpa (Dreaming).
The viewer becomes immersed in the painting’s gentle shifts in tone and form. There is no need to gain bearings. Through this work, Miller invites us to travel the contours of her Country beside her, appreciating the rhythmic nuances of her sprawling homelands.
This work depicts Kulyakartu, a significant site in the far north of the Martu homelands. During pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) times, Taylor and his family travelled to Kulyakartu in the wet season to take advantage of the vast grassy plains that made for excellent hunting.
Wokka Taylor, alongside his brother Muuki, was a highly regarded senior Martu man. Together, they held an encyclopaedic knowledge of Martu Country, including a deep understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of their land. In collaborative works, the brothers were known to chart the intricate network of underground waters sustaining their Country.
Taylor’s signature style featured densely layered dot work flowing rhythmically across the canvas, suggesting warm winds moving gently over sandhills or soft desert grasses. In this work, Taylor lovingly traced sinuous blue lines that snake their way across the plush grasslands of Kulyakartu, conjuring images of subterranean waters that support the fragile biodiversity of this site.
100% silk satin with cotton padding and silk lining.
All of our ties come in a beautiful giftbox and include an Artist’s card, detailing the artist’s work and practice.
