Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands Women's Collaborative

Twenty four women artists from across the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, located in the northwest of South Australia, have collaborated to paint a large canvas depicting the Seven Sisters Dreaming known as Kungkarangkalpa. This is a significant Tjukurpa (ancestral story) through the entire region. The artists have dedicated this painting to the children of the APY Lands, ensuring that the knowledge of law and country and the ties of family stay strong for the next generation.

This painting is about the constellation of Orion and Pleiades. The sisters are the Pleiades constellation and Orion is said to be (a bad man). Wati Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters. According to the story, the seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape the persistent and unwanted attentions of Wati Nyiru.

They turn into their human form to hide, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky. As Wati Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to create the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful Ili (fig) tree for them to camp under. The sisters however, are too clever for Wati Nyiru and outwit him. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by him. Every now and again one of the women would fall victim to his ways. It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky to escape Wati Nyiru, reforming the constellation.

  • Why is the Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters such a significant Tjukurpa for future generations? How is this story relevant for young people today?
  • Find another work of art where an artist or artists have depicted an ancestral creation story. Compare this work of art with Seven Sisters in terms of style and technique.
  • Describe the shapes, colours, lines and patterns you can see. Which of these are repeated?
  • Why do you think these marks are so important to the artists?
  • Does this painting feel hot or cold?
  • The Seven Sisters were tempted by bush tomatoes and the most beautiful fig-tree to camp under. Name a beautiful place or tasty food you find tempting. As a class, share your responses. What similarities and differences do you notice between all the places and items listed?
  • With a friend, share your favourite story.
  • According to the story, the seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth. Do you think you are looking up at the sky or down at the earth in this painting?
  • Use a viewfinder to isolate a section of the painting. How do you think the artists made the marks you have selected?
  • Examine astronomical photographs of Pleiades. Compare these images to the painting Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters. What similarities and differences do you notice?
  • Imagine Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters was printed onto a postcard that you could send to a friend who hasn’t seen the painting before. What would you write about this work of art? Kulata Tjuta: a work for Kunmanara (Gordon) Ingkatji is another large collaborative. It was created by twenty-three men, both senior and emerging, from across the APY Lands. Compare the APY Lands women’s and men’s collaborative paintings. Can you see the unique styles of individual artists? What similarities do the paintings share and how are they different?

Alec Baker, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Shirley Well, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1932, Eric Mungi Kunmanara Barney, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1973, Taylor Wanyima Cooper, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Malara, a waterhole east of Pipalyatjara, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1940, Kunmanara Carroll, Pitjantjatjara/Luritja people, South Australia/Northern Territory, born Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), Northern Territory 1950, died Pukatja (Ernabella), Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2021, Sammy Dodd, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Winpiranganyi, South Australia 1 January 1946, Kunmanara (Ronnie) Douglas, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Umbeara, Northern Territory 1949, died Amata, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 2017, Kunmanara Stanley Douglas, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Kulgera, Northern Territory 1944, Arnie Frank, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Yanyarinyi (Kenmore Park), Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1960, Kunmanara (David) Frank, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Mount Cavanagh Station, Northern Territory 1949, died Port Augusta, South Australia 2021, Witjiti George, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Lambina/Granite Downs Station, South Australia 1938, Rupert Jack, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mimili, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1951, Kunmanara Kaika Burton, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born near Irrunytju (Wingellina), Western Australia 1941, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2020, Kunmanara (Brenton) Ken, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Willi Willi, south west of Amata, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1944, died Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2018, Freddy Ken, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1951, Kunmanara (Ray) Ken, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Amaruna, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1940, died Mutitjulu, Northern Territory 2018, Kunmanara (Peter) Mungkuri, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Kaltjiti (Fregon), Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1946, died Indulkana, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia December 2021, Vincent Namatjira, Western Aranda people, Northern Territory, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1983, David Pearson, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Indulkana, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia c.1964, Kunmanara (Jimmy) Pompey, Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Gap Well, South Australia 1952, died Port Augusta, South Australia 2018, Kunmanara (Willy Muntjantji) Martin, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia 1950, died Kulgera, Northern Territory 2018, Mick Wikilyiri, Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born Rocket Bore, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, Northern Territory 1938, Mumu Mike Williams, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Inturjanu between Kenmore Park and Pukatja (Ernabella), Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia 1952, died Mparntwe(Alice Springs), Northern Territory 2 March 2019, Anwar Young, Pitjantjatjara people, South Australia, born Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory 1994, Kuḻaṯa Tjuṯa - A work for Kunmanara (Gordon) Ingkatji, 2016, Indulkana, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, South Australia, synthetic polymer paint on linen, wood, 300.0 x 500.0 cm (painting), 3.0 x 237.7 x 3.0 cm (b), 2.2 x 231.0 x 2.5 cm (c), 2.2 x 213.0 x 2.5 cm (d), 2.4 x 211.1 x 2.4 cm (e), 2.2 x 252.7 x 3.1 cm (f), 2.4 x 210.5 x 2.7 cm (g), 2.6 x 226.0 x 3.1 cm (h), 4.0 x 68.5 x 7.9 cm (i), 2.9 x 63.4 x 6.2 cm (j), 3.0 x 60.5 x 6.6 cm (k), 2.5 x 61.6 x 7.6 cm (l), 2.5 x 58.5 x 7.6 cm (m), 2.2 x 56.3 x 7.3 cm (n), 4.0 x 73.4 x 8.3 cm (o); Acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2017, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © artists and Ernabella Arts, Iwantja Arts, Kaltjiti Arts, Mimili Maku Arts, Tjala Arts, APY Art Centre Collective/Copyright Agency, photo: Silversalt Photography.

  • Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters is a significant Tjukurpa (ancestral, creation story). After reading the story, why do you think the artists have captured this story? What are the messages they artists are trying to send to younger generations?
  • Some Aboriginal creation stories, like the Seven Sisters, can sound a little scary. What do you think is the purpose for telling scary stories? Are there other works of art that you find a little frightening? With a friend, discuss why some artists might depict scary elements in their story.
  • Research the bush tomato. What other bush foods are found in the desert?
  • Imagine you are taking a trip to the APY Lands. Investigate the geography, flora and fauna. What items will you need to take with you and what would you hope to see?
  • Research other ways the knowledge of astronomy has been used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • There are other variations to the Seven Sisters narrative in other places across Australia, in Greek mythology and in Japanese and Indian cultures. What other versions of this story can you can find? Compare one of these stories to the APY Lands women’s collaborative, Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters. Why do you think this story is popular among multiple cultures?
  • Other cultures may look at the sky in slightly different ways and have alternative names for certain constellations. For example, many Aboriginal people tell stories about The Great Emu as opposed to what many people recognise as the Milky Way. Investigate the Aboriginal names for other well-known constellations.
  • Read a well-known creation story as a class. While listening to the narrator, create an illustration to accompany this story.
  • Make a list of some dangerous things you need to be mindful of. For example, you may need to be careful crossing the road or wary when talking to strangers. Create a painting that warns people about a dangerous situation.
  • Think about a tradition or belief that your parents or grandparents have passed down in your family. What are some things that are unique to your family? Create a painting that will help to keep your family tradition or belief strong for future generations.
  • Wati Nyiru is described as a ‘bad man’ in the Seven Sisters story. Brainstorm a list of characters in other stories that feature a villain or an antihero. What characteristics do these villains or ‘bad men’ share? Use your list of your characteristics as inspiration for your own villain or antihero.
  • Nyurpaya Kaika Burton, one of the women artists to contribute to Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters, describes the painting as being ‘about seven strong women looking after each other and working together to stay safe. The story speaks to the importance of strength of the group of women together, and the importance of never leaving a family or woman member behind.’ Investigate other stories about strong and resilient women. Create a work of art that tells their story and communicates a positive message to young people.
  • Take time to scan the place where you live. Identify the three most dominant colours. Using this palette, create a work of art that captures the essence of your environment.