I’ve been following the Sister 7 Gallery‘s Instagram @sister7gallery which mostly showcases the work of the Numina sisters, who are Kaytetye artists from Utopia country.
SISTER7 gallery on Larrakia Country opened on July 1st, 2018. The concept of the gallery was the first Women’s gallery in Darwin showcasing initially 7 professional Aborginal female artists.
About Sister 7
The Numina Sisters are six well known artists who come from a long line of desert painters. The Numina Sisters have all been taught to paint by their earlier elder painter grandmothers, mother-auntys, and cousin-sisters connected across the Central Desert region. Their mother’s and grandmother’s Country is in the bush and the remote Stirling Station.
READBACK Aboriginal Art
The Bush Medicine Leaves Dreaming knowledge story is a popular theme of the Numina Sisters. Many women from the Peytre, Mambitji and Numina family name hold custody of the story and knowledge keepers of painting series-themes such as Bush Medicine Leaves, Bush Tucker, Seeded, Soakage, Women’s Ceremony etc.
READBACK Aboriginal Art
Subjects of importance in the theme-series painted are various bush tucker. Plant foods include wild berries, plums, onion, yam, seeds etc. Many animals can be depicted as food source or as totems such as Thorny Devil Lizard and Dingo Tracks.
READBACK Aboriginal Art
Knowing, carrying and reinforcing these stories gives respect for Country and ancestors and shows responsibility and care of holding such stories to keep the stories and traditional practices alive. The knowledge must be retold repeatedly and handed on.
READBACK Aboriginal Art
I love on the Sister 7 Instagram how you get to see the artist, and their pride in their work.
The Numina Sisters work is also available here, including this amazing piece by Lanita Numina Napanangka:
The Numina sisters aunties are Gloria and Kathleen Petyerre, who are/were well established artists in Alice Springs.
This work by Roseanne Morton Petyarre is just… beyond words:
There are so many jaw dropping artworks at the Central Art store. I find with each artist I disappear down a rabbithole of learning about their region and their language and their people.