Ngurrara Canvas II Travels From The Kimberley To Sydney

Terry Murray, a Walmajarri man, artist and coordinator of the Ngurrara Canvas II Management Group. Image: Supplied

The KLC is proud to have supported the safe keeping and transport of the Ngurrara Canvas II, as Ngurrara cultural leaders, performers and artists travelled from the Great Sandy Desert to present the monumental work at the 25th Biennale of Sydney.

Displayed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales during the Biennale’s opening weekend, the presentation is expected to be the final time the Canvas is shown publicly away from Country.

A delegation of Ngurrara artists and cultural representatives marked the occasion with a powerful rainmaking ceremony performed in front of the Canvas. The ceremony tells the story of ancestral men Wayampajarti and Kurtal, who travelled across the desert before transforming into Kalpurtu, powerful spirit snakes associated with rain and water.

Terry Murray, a Walmajarri man, artist and coordinator of the Ngurrara Canvas II Management Group, described the experience as deeply moving.

“It was really emotional and really stands out,” he said. “Everybody’s honoured and excited because we’re bringing in the next generation from the 43 artists.

“Everyone is connected through this big, amazing work, telling our stories to the wider world. When we do business, we make rain, we dance and we connect with the land itself.”

A LIVING MAP OF COUNTRY

Artist Terry Murray at the 20th Anniversary Celebrations for Ngurrara Canvas II

Measuring ten metres by eight metres, the Ngurrara Canvas II was created in 1997 by 43 artists from four language groups: Walmajarri, Wangkajunga, Mangala and Juwaliny.

Painted over three weeks at Pirnini in the Great Sandy Desert, the Canvas is widely recognised as a “living map” of Country. It depicts an intricate network of Jila (permanent waters), songlines and dreaming tracks that connect Ngurrara people across the desert.

“They hold the songlines from the desert and from the Jila, which is the permanent water and water is precious in the desert,” Mr Murray said. “It’s about how people are connected to the land, and about family coming together across generations.”

At just 19 years old, Mr Murray was the youngest of the original artists to contribute to the second Canvas. Today, only a small number of those artists remain.

PRESERVING A NATIONAL TREASURE

Community members rescuing the Ngurrara Canvas II during the 2023 Fitzroy Floods. Image: Supplied.

Following major flooding in the Fitzroy region, the Canvas was rescued from potential damage and safely stored at the KLC office. The KLC also assisted in coordinating its transport from Broome to Sydney for the Biennale, ensuring the work could be shared while remaining protected.

KLC Chair Anthony Watson said the organisation was proud to support the preservation of such an important cultural asset.

“The Ngurrara Canvas is an amazing piece of history,” he said.

“The KLC has supported keeping this artwork safe over many years, including helping rescue it from the floods, because it is a national treasure.

“Congratulations to all the Traditional Owners on this outstanding achievement. It’s a powerful example of how communities can map and share stories of Country.”

A POWERFUL TOOL IN THE FIGHT FOR NATIVE TITLE

The Ngurrara Canvas II played a critical role in the Ngurrara people’s Native Title claim.

Created during proceedings before the National Native Title Tribunal in 1997, the painting provided a visual and cultural record of connection to Country at a time when many claimants faced language and literacy barriers.

Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre CEO Peter Murray said the idea came directly from the community.

“Our ancestors decided to draw a painting to show their connection to Country,” he said. “Each artist told their story through the Canvas.”

The Ngurrara people’s Native Title rights were formally recognised in determinations in 2007 and 2012, with the Canvas remaining a lasting symbol of that achievement.

“It tells a million stories,” Mr Murray said. “We’re using the Canvas to strengthen culture and empower our people to continue telling those stories.”

Ngurrara Canvas 20th Celebrations