Warrarnku Ninti Celebration
Presented by Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa and Tura in conjuction with Martumili Artists in 2024
Tura joined Martumili Artists and Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa to present the opening of Kujungka (all together as one) and the Warrarnku Ninti (knowledge of Country) Celebration.
From 5-8 July 2024, the Newman Gallery and East Pilbara Arts Centre were transformed into an immersive audiovisual experience, marking the culmination of a multi-year partnership.
The celebration wove multiple long-term artistic collaborations together to create a single, expansive presentation featuring soundscapes, projection, and paintings that brought to life the rich stories that, over countless generations, have shaped the landscapes of Martu Country.
The Kujungka exhibition encapsulated the spirit of collaboration and Martu’s collective determination to work together as a community, as families, and as language groups to keep Country and culture strong into the future.
Animated projections developed by Sohan Ariel Hayes in collaboration with Martu artists brought liveliness and movement to the stories detailed in the paintings of Judith Anya Samson, Muuki Taylor, Nola Taylor, Bugai Whoulter, Cyril Whoulter, and Corban Clause Williams.
The Warrarnku Ninti Celebration featured three distinct sound works composed from the Kulininpalaju sound archives, drawn from audio recordings made across Punmu, Parnngurr, and Kunawarratiji Country with over 25 Martu and Tura artists.
The Program
The Kujungka exhibition, meaning ‘all coming together as one’, is the culmination of three years of collaborative programming, celebrating the spirit of cooperation and togetherness. Presented by Martumili Artists and Kanyirininpa Jukurrpa (KJ) in partnership with Tura, the visual aspects of the exhibition were developed through Martumili and KJ’s joint activities.
The sonic elements of Kujungka feature compositions created from the Kulininpalaju Sound Archive.The sounds you hear in the gallery space were made during on-Country developments in Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji communities.
The collectivity and reciprocity of Martu culture reminds us of the interconnectedness of all things, and as such this exhibition expresses the fruitful cross-pollination of diverse creative practices as an everyday Martu way of living.
The rich possibilities of kujungka were powerfully realised in the Warrarnku Ninti Sound + Light Show. Senior and emerging Martu artists came together and took the audience on a journey deep into desert country. Paintings by Judith Anya Samson, Muuki Taylor, Nola Taylor, Bugai Whyoulter, Cyril Whyoulter, and Corban Clause Williams, were transformed to fill the East Pilbara Arts Centre with immersive landscapes illuminating many shared cultural practices.
Wantili, Wayinkurangu, Puntawarri, Kulyakartu and Punmu are all evoked in mesmerising animations created with Sohan Ariel Hayes (third generation English settler producing artist with extensive experience working with Senior Martu Law Men and Women), with immersive sound compositions that have been created by Martu and Tura artists from the on-Country Kulininpalaju (We Are Listening!) project.
During the day across this celebratory weekend, visitors were invited to experience a surround-sound immersive audio experience sourced from the Kulinpalaju Sound Archive. In this expansive sound-scape, selections from the archive are given space to stretch out, mimicking the immense desert landscapes of Martu ngurra (Country).
About
Martumili Artists is a Martu-driven Aboriginal art centre, hosted by the Shire of East Pilbara. Martumili represents Martu artists working in the communities of Parnpajinya (Newman), Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji and Warralong. Based in Newman in the East Pilbara Arts Centre, Martumili maintain a self-curated gallery space and a drop-in art studio. Martumili also service remote communities through regular field trips to satellite community based art facilities. Martumili are well-recognised by national institutions and private collectors, and are exhibited worldwide.
Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa is a Martu organisation that works with Martu delivering a suite of cultural, environmental, educational, and social programs. KJ’s mission is to build strong and sustainable Martu communities and one of KJ’s primary objec-tives is to preserve Martu culture and traditional knowledge. This focuses KJ’s work on Martu living within the four desert communities, but does not prevent the far-flung Martu diaspora also working with KJ. Currently the largest employer of Martu, the success of KJ’s programs have been acknowledged at a national and international level.
Tura creates ambitious projects and experiences that celebrate sound and defy expectations. As a national organisation based in Boorloo/Perth Tura makes a leading contribution to the cultural life of Australia and beyond through award-winning productions, major projects and community engagement programs that strive for positive social change. Tura supports artistic risk and innovation and creates new works that are diverse, unexpected and daringly bold. Tura works with communities and artists at all levels to foster talent, ambition and growth. Participants and audiences are encouraged to experience new and surprising perceptions of place, the world, and themselves.
The Warrarnku Ninti Celebration was been made possible with funding from Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, BHP, Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support, the Shire of East Pilbara and with support from RMIT School of Art and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Kulininpalaju is a long-term creative program partnership between Tura and Martumili Artists (MMA), supported by BHP and RMIT School of Art. Tura's ongoing programs are supported by the State Government of Western Australia through the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
