Mimili Maku Arts: Aboriginal Art from the Everard Ranges, APY Lands
The land around Mimili has its own name and its own story. Kinara Mimi is a place of water, where Kapi Kata (a soakage) still lies. Iriti, long ago, it was known as Pira Mimi: "the moon is just starting to come up" in Yankunytjatjara. This is Yankunytjatjara country, though it has long been a place where Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people come together as walytja (family).
The land was previously part of Everard Park Station, where many older community members worked mustering, droving, and breaking in horses. The South Australian Government purchased the station in 1972 and it was returned to traditional owners under the APY Land Rights Act in 1981. Mimili Community was incorporated in 1975. The art centre, Mimili Maku Arts, was established in 2004 and officially incorporated in 2010.
The name Maku refers to the witchetty grub, found in the roots of the Acacia Kempeana. The Maku Tjukurpa, the witchetty grub songline, is a significant story from this country and runs through the work of many senior artists at the centre. Founding director Kunmanara (Mumu Mike) Williams described the place simply: "At Mimili Maku Arts we work together: the old men and women side by side with their children and grandchildren. This is Anangu way."
Today around 350 people from Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Luritja language groups live in Mimili. The art centre is owned and governed by a board of Anangu directors and supports artists across painting, new media, sculpture and publishing. It involves artists from four surrounding homelands: Perentie Bore, Wanmara, Blue Hills and Sandy Bore. Its artists are known for work that is experimentally bold and culturally potent, not a single house style but a range of practices that reflects the diversity of the community.
A founding member of the APY Art Centre Collective, Mimili Maku Arts does not have capacity to host volunteers or tourists. A permit is required to visit any community on the APY Lands.
Mimili Maku Arts at a glance
- Established: Founded 2004. Incorporated 2010.
- Location: Mimili Community, Everard Ranges, APY Lands, far north-west South Australia. Approximately 380km south of Alice Springs.
- Language Groups: Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Luritja.
- Art Style and Media: Painting, new media, sculpture and publishing. Experimentally bold and culturally potent work. No single house style.
- Notable Artists: Betty Kuntiwa Pumani, Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin, Ngupulya Pumani, Robert Fielding, and the late Kunmanara (Mumu Mike) Williams.
- Homelands Served: Mimili Community and four surrounding homelands: Perentie Bore, Wanmara, Blue Hills and Sandy Bore.
- Membership: Founding member of the APY Art Centre Collective.
- Access: No public access. A permit is required to visit APY Lands communities.
