Tjutjuna Paul Andy, Kalaya Tjukurpa, 101x71cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Tjutjuna Paul Andy
• Community - Ernabella/Adelaide
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Iwiri Arts 
• Catalogue number - 24-246
• Materials - Acrylic paint on linen
• Size(cm) - H101 W71 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

Tjutjuna’s unique iconography depicts the stories of the Country near Kanpi, passed down to him from his grandfather. Tjutjuna paints Kalaya Tjukurpa. Kalaya Tjukurpa is the Creation Story of an Emu being who formed the landscape by carving out the sandhills, creeks, rocky mountain ranges and waterholes as he travelled from Kanpi to Watarru.

Tjutjuna (Paul) Andy was born in Kaltjiti (Fregon), a small community just south of the Musgrave Ranges in the APY Lands, in 1965. For many years, Tjutjuna worked for the APY Land Council as the Mining liaison officer. His late father, Andy Tjilari, was a widely respected and important lawman and Ngangkari (Traditional Healer) who worked for NPY Women's Council.

Tjutjuna first began his career as an arrist at Ernabella Arts in 2011, after attending the inaugural Wati Workshop in the Ceramics studio there. Together with his wife, Tjimpuna Williams, another prolific ceramic artist from Ernabella, Tjutjuna undertook a ceramic residency in Singapore in late 2014.

Now working as a multidisciplinary artist across the ceramic and painting mediums, Tjutjuna’s unique iconography depicts the stories of the Country near Kanpi, passed down to him from his grandfather. Tjutjuna paints Kalaya Tjukurpa. Kalaya Tjukurpa is the Creation Story of an Emu being who formed the landscape by carving out the sandhills, creeks, rocky mountain ranges and waterholes as he travelled from Kanpi to Watarru. Tjutjuna is now living on Kaurna (Adelaide) and working at Iwiri Arts.

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.