Audrey Brumby, Ngura Tjuta Munu Tjukula Tjuta, 122x61cm

Tjukula Tjuta (many rockholes) "People go out to the rockholes to get kapi (water) we know the names from a long time ago for all the rockholes, when it rains, we know there is big kapi in the rockhole and we can get fresh water."

For the Pitjantjatjara people living in the central and western desert, knowledge of the water sources was crucial to survival. The deep familiarity with their country ensured constant sources of water and food could be found and this intimate understanding of the landscape continues today. 'Tjukula' means rock-holes or waterholes. Anangu often protect these water sources by using rocks and spinifex to form a barrier to animals and, in more recent times, to protect from feral and stock animals.

Audrey was born in Ernabella, South Australia in 1967. She was a school teacher there for many years and now resides in Adelaide, South Australia. The Brumby family are from the Pitjantjatjara people and lands and speak the Anangu language. Audrey has been part of the Ernabella art collective and can remember when they were taught batik techniques in the 1980s as part of a cultural exchange. Some of her work reflects this early experience with a canting. She has been a productive and passionate painter and has displayed work at Tandanya and has major works installed at the AEU building (SA), Australian Taxation Office (SA), the Adelaide Hilton (in 2017) and in 2014 the historic Brookman Hall, UNISA, Adelaide. Audrey actively works as a Pitjantjatjara translator and has also illustrated a series of children’s books written in both English and Pitjantjatjara language. Her work reflects dreaming, country-flora, travel through Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and bush tucker.

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.