Jennifer Nginana Mitchell, Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters). 2020. 92cm x 61cm. Acrylic on cotton canvas. Papulankutja Artists. (#87-20)

Jennifer was born in c1955 at Kala Tjutji near Irruntju (Wingelina) in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Kala Tjutji is an important place culturally as it is the site of the Emu dreaming place and the Wati Kutjarra dreaming story. As a child she travelled across the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunyjatjarra Lands (NPY Lands) with her family, and was near Maralinga when atomic rocket testing was conducted by the British, American and Australian Defence Forces in the 1950s. Having returned from Oodnadatta, SA Jennifer and her family hid away in wiltja (bush shelters) at Watinuma to be safe from the bomb. Jennifer remembers hiding during the day, only coming out at night when the smoke was gone. She said her eyes stung after the bomb. They were helped by Mr McDonald a government official who made sure the Aboriginal people were well away, over the range, from the test site.

Jennifer is the daughter of well-known artist Eileen Tjayanka Woods who has passed away. Jennifer started making tjanpi (grass) baskets in 1995 and has been painting since 2008. Jennifer is also an accomplished basket-maker and sculptor (animated dogs and caricatures of people) out of wool and grass.

This is a popular Tjukurpa Story (Dreamtime Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion that is common to most Indigenous Australian groups. The different versions of this story depend on where you live and the significance's of local Dreaming places. The sisters are said to be Pleiades and the other star Orion is Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kungkarrangkalpa women as he wants sex and to marry the eldest sister. The seven sisters travel across the land to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions, but he is persistent and always finds them. Eventually sisters fly into the sky to escape Nyiru forming the constellation. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarrpa (bush tomato) for the sisters eat and the most beautiful Yirli (wild fig tree), for them to eat and camp under. However, the sisters are knowledgeable of his magic and too clever for Nyiru who they outwit again and again. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the sisters, usually the big sister is caught and raped by Nyiru. It is said he also captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her.

Papulankutja or Blackstone Community was established after Ngaanyatjarra people walked out of Warburton mission in the 1970s and returned to their land in the shadow of the spectacular Blackstone Range west of the tri-state border. Papulankutja Artists was established in 2001 and incorporated in 2004 growing out of Blackstone’s women’s centre. After many years of working through the women’s centre and then the community hall, Papulankutja Artists opened their own purpose built art studio in 2009. Papulankutja Artists are very community focussed. Today, women and men, young people and old people, work together. By purchasing an artwork from an Indigenous owned and governed art centre you are supporting the community. 60% goes directly to the artist and 40% is reimbursed back into the art centre to buy materials so the artists can continue to produce beautiful work and celebrate their culture.