Kujungka Exhibition and Soundscape
Martumili Artists, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa and Tura
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, a long-term collaboration between Martumili Artists and Tura, supported by BHP.
Kujungka is the third exhibition following Mirrka (2023) and Waru (2022), which respectively celebrated many of the bushfoods that have sustained Martu people over thousands of years, and the importance of traditional fire uses. The three exhibitions together form the Warrarnku Ninti program, a partnership between Martumili and KJ motivated by Martu determination and unity.
On 5 – 8 July, the Warrarnku Ninti Celebration will be an activation of the creative outcomes produced by Martu over the three years of partnership, including Martumili’s collaboration with Tura which brings an expansive soundscape to the Newman Gallery mimicking the immense desert landscapes of Martu ngurra.
Kujungka speaks to a sense of connectedness, reflecting the Martu vision to preserve cultural traditions, knowledge, and Country.
The exhibition runs from July to October is open 10am-4pm daily at the Martumili Gallery Space in Newman.
About
Kulininpalaju is a long-term creative collaboration between Martumili Artists and Tura, supported by BHP. The project explores the extensive possibilities of collective listening and recording, literally translating to ‘we are listening’ in Martu wangka (language).
Over 100+ hours of audio recordings made during on-Country developments since 2021 in Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji. The recordings were made by over 25 Martu artists, alongside Tura facilitators and sound artists Philip Samartzis and Annika Moses.
Through Kulininpalaju, Tura and Martumili have honed a strong methodology for Martu-led intercultural collaboration in the creative sound art medium. Kulininpalaju explores sound as an exciting and potent medium for sharing Country, supporting intergenerational knowledge transfer and contributing to collective cultural wellbeing.
Kulininpalaju Sound Archive will be the source material for the creation of many immersive sound compositions as well as collaborations with other media and an online curated sound archive to connect those for those absent from Country.
Martumili Artists
Azarni Dean, Alysha Taylor, Alana Patch, Bethany Wumi, Bianca Simpson, Brianna Booth, Corban Clause Williams, Corina Jadai, Dean Brooks, Derrick Butt, Gladys Kuru Bidu, Helen Dale Samson, Jenny Butt, Judith Anya Samson, Kimeal Simpson, Kieran Patch, Marlene Anderson, Mayika Chapman, Nola Taylor, Owen John Biljabu, Rianne Burton, Robina Clause, Sarah Jones, Shamicka Sampi, Shaylene Taylor, Timera Frank, Tionne Gibson, and Thelma Judson.
Tura Artists
Philip Samartzis - Lead Sound Artist
Annika Moses - Sound Artist and Project Coordinator
The rich possibilities of kujungka are powerfully realised in the Warrarnku Ninti Sound + Light Show. Senior and emerging Martu artists come together and take 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, are 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. Warrarnku Ninti Sound + Light Show furthers ongoing investigations into collaborative work and new media, sharing Martu ways of knowing Country.
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 regu-lar field trips to satellite community based art facilities. Martumili are well-recognised by natio-nal institutions and private collectors, and are exhibited worldwide.
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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.
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The Warrarnku Ninti Celebration has been made possible with funding from Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, 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 Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Images by Anna Spencer.
Artwork: Wantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25), Bugai Whyoulter, 2023, acrylic on linen
Kujungka Extract
Tura acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and create. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. With solidarity and friendship we say thank you.
