| Artist | Maringka Tunkin |
|---|---|
| Title | Seven Sisters |
| Year | 2022 |
| Medium | Acrylic on linen |
| Dimensions | 122 × 98 cm |
| Art Centre | Tjala Arts → |
Out of stock
Maringka Tunkin
Maringka Tunkin was born and raised in Amata. She is the daughter of the late Kunmanara (Paniny) Mick and Mick Wikilyiri, both senior and highly regarded painters at Tjala Arts. After attending boarding high school at Yirara, Maringka returned to Amata to paint at the Tjurma Homelands Art and Craft Centre, where she painted on canvas and created batik. Maringka returned to painting in 2007 when she joined the other artists at Tjala Arts.
In addition to her own successful painting career, Maringka also paints on impressive large-scale collaborative canvases with her four sisters – Yaritji Young, Tjungkara Ken, Freda Brady and Sandra Ken – who together form the acclaimed Ken Sisters’ Collaboration.
Artist statement
In this painting, Maringka Tunkin has depicted the Kunkarunkara (Seven Sisters) story. This is a Tjukurpa (Creation story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellaton of Pleiades and the other star Orion is Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters. The seven sisters travel to escape the persistent Nyiru, but he always finds them. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the Ili (fig) tree for them to camp under. However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. Eventually the sisters fly into the sky to escape Nyiru, forming the constellation.