Matjangka Norris

Image description: The design for this rug is from an original bultik cotton length. The style of art is known as ‘walka’. The abstract images, enclosed within a border, are typical of this 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 imagery is influenced by the ancient Aboriginal culture and the land from which it draws its origins. 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: Matjanka is from Watinuma Homelands on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands, 350km south east of Uluru. She works in both the art forms of painting and batik which can be found in the National Gallery of Victoria, South Australian Museum and Flinders University Collections. She uses both the dot painting style as well as ‘walka’ – abstract images – a style unique to the region.