Tjunkaya Ken, Anapalayaku Walka, 50x40cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Tjunkaya Ken
• Community - Ernabella/Adelaide
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Iwiri Arts 
• Catalogue number - 47-22
• Materials - Acrylic paint on canvas
• Size(cm) - H50 W40 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This work speaks to the history of Ernabella Art Centre, located in Pukatja community - the first permanent settlement on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands). Established in 1948, Ernabella Arts is Australia’s oldest, continuously running Indigenous Art Centre. It's located at the eastern end of the Musgrave Ranges in the far northwest of South Australia. The Presbyterian Board of Missions established the mission in 1937 and created a craft room in 1948. The first objects to be created were hand-loomed woven fabrics, hand-pulled/knotted floor rugs and Batik textiles. The works made during this period produced a unique design/pattern that became known as ‘the Ernabella walka’ or anapalayaku walka (Ernabella's design). Tjunkaya is re-interpreting this walka in her own way, in a contemporary context.

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Iwiṟi was established by Aṉangu in 2018, many of whom had been forced to move to Adelaide due to chronic health conditions and lack of services in their home communities. Living far from their traditional homelands, Anangu were concerned about the cultural and social isolation they were experiencing and saw a need to act.  Iwiri was formed initially to help retain, promote and transmit Anangu culture and language through the areas of arts, language, knowledge and community. Since then Iwiṟi has grown rapidly into an organization that delivers  a range of programs that aim to strengthen and advance Aṉangu wellbeing.

Iwiri strengthens the Aṉangu community through cultural and arts activities, creating employment opportunities and enterprise development. We want our young people to be strong in their language and culture and to take up opportunities to work in our community.