Brenda Williamson

Image description: The design for this rug is from an original painting. The style of art is known as ‘walka’. Walka refers to any meaningful mark of pattern, and is a style which is unique to the Aboriginal women artists of the Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands, in remote north west South Australia. The different forms of the desert landscape have a great impact on the artists’ use of colour and image construction. The ancient Aboriginal culture and the land from which it draws its origins also influence the imagery. Specific titles, however, are seldom given to the ‘walka’ artwork. The artistic process is instinctive and imaginative. Project: These beautiful, unique rugs are a cross-cultural collaboration combining Aboriginal designs and traditional Kashmiri rug-making techniques. Chain stitched, using hand dyed wool and finished with a heavy cotton backing, each rug is a completely handmade piece. This project, although in its early stages, is already bringing noticeable benefit to the artists and the community. Purchase of these rugs guarantees a direct return to the Aboriginal artists, as the project is an initiative of Kaltjiti, their own art organisation. Artist: Brenda is from Fregon on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands, 350km south east of Uluru. Her medium is acrylic on canvas with subjects relating to traditional foods and ‘walka’ – abstract images (a style unique to the region). She also works in the medium of silk painting and batik.