Kunmanara (Mulakuya) Ken

Image description: This rug is taken from an original small painting, a gouache on paper. The image is part of the recent emergence of exciting semi-abstract paintings that express Tjukurpa (creation Stories) and contemporary life. This style of work is unique to the Aboriginal women artists of the Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands, in remote north west South Australia but is also part of the wider development of contemporary Aboriginal art. Country and culture, as well as exposure to the contemporary art world give these works distinctive ingredients that unite them as community creations. 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: Mulakuya is from Fregon on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands. Originally a batik artist, she now paints and is known for her attention to detail. In common with many people of her era, Mulykuya Ken was born ‘out bush’, into a small family group that was largely nomadic. As a young girl, Mulykuya travelled with her family throughout the country of her parents, learning how to find bush tucker, like rabbit, kangaroo, perentie (goanna) and different bush berries. As a young woman, Mulykuya lived at the Uniting Church mission in Ernabella, north of Fregon, where she married. Mulykuya was one of the first women in Ernabella to learn batik. In the mid 1970s, Mulykuya moved to Fregon and had four children. In 2004 she took part in the Desert Mob show, at Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs.