Warlukurlangu Artists & Artists of Ampilatwatja: Contemporary Indigenous Exhibition

The Warlukurlangu Community is situated in Yuendumu, North West of Alice Springs and is renowned for their spectacular use of colour and pattern, depicting traditional Dreamtime stories in an enriched, contemporary way. In contrast, the Artists of Ampilatwatja maintain a strong focus on Alyawarr lore, and their work is distinguished by depicting the natural landscape in minute detail.

WARLUKURLANGU

Established in 1985 Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu (which lies 300 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs) and Nyirripi in Central Australia. Warlukurlangu Artists is famous for its gloriously colourful acrylic paintings and limited edition prints. The art centre has a national and international profile and its art has been featured in hundreds of exhibitions and publications in Australia and around the world.

Warlukurlangu means ‘belonging to fire’ in the local language, Warlpiri, and is named for a fire dreaming site west of Yuendumu.

AMPILATWATJA

The Community of Ampilatwatja (pronounced um-bludder-witch) is the largest of three communities under the Aherrenge Aboriginal Association. It is located about 320 km north-east of Alice Springs and has a population of about 350 people who are predominantly of the Alyawarr language group.

Ampilatwatja is in the heart of Alyawarr land on the Sandover Highway. The Alyawarr people have always lived there and have travelled between soaks in the hot weather and have close ties to the people who live at Lake Nash.

In 1999, a community arts centre was established, under the banner Artists of Ampilatwatja. This has provided the community with the means to increase economic opportunities, while, at the same time, reinforcing the value of the Alyawarr people’s culture.The artworks produced at Ampilatwatja maintain a strong focus on Alyawarr lore, with a particular emphasis on the natural landscape. The artists’ work is distinguished by the microcosmic detail invested in elements of landscape, all of which is marked out in the finest of dot painting, using a rich palette of colours.