Impact
21.01.23 - 26.02.23
Koskela Gallery Presents: Minyma Kutjara - Two Women
Showing for the first time ever in Sydney, the Koskela Gallery is pleased to present Minyma Kutjara – Two Women, a striking collection of works by Norma Bryant and Eva Baker of Minyma Kutjara Arts Project.
The Minyma Kutjara tjukurpa (Two Women creation story) is an important dreaming which traces the landscape from the Western and Southern deserts of Australia, and tells the story of two sister’s epic journey as they travel home across the Lands.
The artists, Norma and Eva both hold strong connections to Minyma Kutjara tjukurpa and depict many aspects of the sisters journey through their paintings.
The Minyma Kutjara Story
The Minyma Kutjara (Two Women) is a significant tjukurpa (creation story) which traces the landscape, travelling from South Australia through the Central Desert to Kaltukatjara (Docker River) in the Northern Territory.
It is one of the most important creation and women’s business stories associated with courtship, pregnancy and childbirth, with many aspects only told in whispers.
Minyma Kutjara is the story of two sisters difficult journey across these vast lands. The older sister was taking her reluctant younger sister to meet their family for the first time, as she had been separated by a big wind when she was a child and raised by another family who she did not want to leave. The two sisters walked for hundreds of kilometres, stopping at rock holes and sacred places to gather food and hunt.
It is one of the most important creation and women’s business stories associated with courtship, pregnancy and childbirth, with many aspects only told in whispers
Their journey can be traced through desert landmarks created along their way. As they travelled the older sister taught her little sister tjukurpa in the form of inma (sacred song, dance and storytelling).
At Irrunytju the sisters cut punu (wood) to make a wana (digging stick) and hair belts in preparation for ceremonial women’s business. At Ultiju Kapi they threw their wana onto the ground creating Wana Wani rock hole.
At Kuliwaratjara, north of Irrunyju, they made a very straight wana which they planted upright in the ground, grinding it down while dancing and singing to create another rock hole.
It was here that the sisters noticed some wati (men) from Kaltukatjara (Docker River) watching them. They got up in a hurry, causing a willy willy (big wind) which chased them to Punti rock hole in the Northern Territory.
Near the end of their journey the little sister got tired and was carried by her big sister. The mountain on the Irrunytju side of Kaltukatjara is called Mana and resembles the shape of the big sister giving the younger sister a piggy back.
This story has been taken from a conversation with Kunytjil Cooper and Mary Knights (former Arts Centre manager) cited in ‘Irrunytju Arts’ catalogue 2006.
Eva Baker and Norma Bryant both hold strong connections to Minyma Kutjara tjukurpa (Two Sisters creation story), and depict this in their paintings. These stories have been passed down to them from their aunt Kunytjil Cooper, one of the original Irrunytju Artists and a highly regarded minyma pampa (senior woman), respected for her extensive knowledge of women’s tjukurpa.
Eva Baker Norma Bryant
My aunty, Mrs Cooper told me these stories. She was a great painter too. I have a lot of stories in my head that my aunty gave me of the Minyma Kutjara tjukurpa. I have to pass them on to my two sisters, my nieces, my daughter and grandchildren. It is very important to me that they know these stories. - Norma Bryant
Minyma Kutjara Arts Project is a not-for-profit community-based enterprise representing artists from the remote community of Irrunytju (Wingellina) in Western Australia, 10 kilometres from the tri-state border with the Northern Territory and South Australia. The artists belong to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group and have re-established a centre for dynamic and culturally important work.
The remote community of Irrunytju (Wingellina) in Western Australia, 10 kilometres from the tri-state border with the Northern Territory and South Australia where Minyma Kutjara Arts project is located. 
The Koskela Gallery is delighted to showcase a diverse range of First Nations artists and art centres from across Australia. As part of our commitment to reconciliation, our gallery space is a platform to recognise, respect and raise awareness of the important role community art centres and artists play in keeping culture strong.
