Artist statement

The Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) Story is of great significance to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people. The sisters travelled a long time ago through the artist’s traditional country in South Australia’s north-west and the south-west corner of the Northern Territory. A man called Wati Nyiru was chasing the sisters trying to court one of them. He used all kinds of trickery in pursuit of them but through the skill of the eldest, they always managed to keep one step ahead of him. The sisters finally escaped to a faraway place so they could stay together safe from the clutches of Wati Nyiru. To this day the seven stars of the sisters, followed by the bright star of Wati Nyiru, can be seen in the night sky – constellations known as the Pleiades and Orion.