Priscilla Singer

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Artist Priscilla Singer
Title Tali Tjitin-tjitinpa (Glowing Red Sand)
Year 2022
Medium

Acrylic on linen

Dimensions 152 × 122 cm
Art Centre Iwantja Arts →

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Priscilla Singer

Priscilla Singer is a senior Pitjantjatjara woman who lives at Indulkana in the APY Lands of South Australia. She is the eldest of six siblings that include the artist Trish Singer. As well as a painter she is a teacher at the Indulkana School. She describes her painting as being about the family connections that are all important to Anangu. In Pitjantjatjara, the word ‘ngura’ is a definition for the physical geography of land and country. However, ngura also has a more richly imbedded meaning as a place to which someone belongs; defining where an individual comes from, family connections, skin groups, and language.

Artist statement

I paint my Ngura (Country) and its red sand. This land is my grandfather’s country, he stood on this ground before me. I feel that connection to my family as I paint. This land that has held its many generations. This land is always changing, the rains come, and the winds shift. The red sand never changes, it is always here. I love the strong colours of the sand. When the sun sets, you can see the glow of the earth. I paint this country so people can see my land, they can appreciate its beauty and understand its power. Our culture is very strong here, we teach our children in the community school, and we also teach them through our paintings, and through our time spent on Country. It is very important that the next generation understands by heart the Tjukurpa that has been passed down to us from our ancestors over many years. We tell the young people, you must listen and learn. It is important to keep our culture alive and strong long into the future. My mother Kunmanara (Sadie) Singer, started Iwantja Arts many years ago with Alec Baker. She had a strong vision for the future of our community and also for sharing our stories and keeping our culture strong through the art centre. I think about her when I make my paintings. When I paint my Country, when I dance and sing the songs of my Country, I feel the spirit of my family and ancestors close to me. Their presence continues to watch over us and keep us strong.