Ngayulu kulipai cavespangka painting palyara mununa mukuringkupai pulkangka palyatjikitja canvas. Panya caves pulkangku culture-wanangku Nyara paluru ngayuku room pulka ngaranyi tjukurpa, walka walkatjukuntjaku, Ngura kulu pulka ngaranyi puklka nyara palula-nguru nguyulu kulira mukuringkupai pulkamunlata palyatjikitja ngura ngayuku-tjara tjukurpa-wanu.

Our ancestors painted on the caves. This is where I learned my story as a child through the cave paintings around Cave Hill. I think about these caves when I am making a major work. The larger scale [canvases] allow me to invoke the cave as a celebration of my culture. They allow me the room I need to share my story. Ours is a big and important country, I need a canvas that will support me to share that.

(Yaritji Young, 2022)

Ngura Puḻka – epic country is an artist-led project, showcasing major works by senior First Nations artists and collectives from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Coober Pedy and Tarntanya/Adelaide, in South Australia. These ambitious works depict Country while celebrating the powerful Tjukurpa (Aṉangu law/cultural stories) that lies within.

An epic project both in scale and scope, the creation of large-scale paintings reinforces artists’ connection to Country. Through stories and distinctive designs, they continue to strengthen their cultural knowledge, and knowledge of their homelands. Individual artists and women’s and men’s collectives bring their Tjukurpa to life on canvas – sometimes through explosions of colour, sometimes in a muted palette.

From the beginning of the APY art movement, these artists have embraced the opportunity to celebrate and share their stories through monumental works of art. Senior women artists, as Community leaders, describe these major works as representing the ultimate freedom of cultural expression, exploration and depiction of their Tjukurpa and Ngura (land).

We are grateful to all Ngura Puḻka – epic country supporters including Major Partner CreateSA and donors to the 2022 collective giving campaign.

Ngura Puḻka was scheduled to open in 2023 but was postponed for the National Gallery’s independent review into the authorship of works following allegations raised in the media. This review validated the authorship of the works. Further independent government reviews have now concluded with no further action being taken.

The National Gallery invites everyone to Kamberri/Canberra to enjoy Ngura Puḻka – epic country. It’s now time to celebrate the artists and see their work.