Tjukurpa Mulayangu – Atipalku’s Story

$3,900.00

Tjukurpa Mulayangu is a men’s law place. This is Atipalku Intjalki’s father’s country in the western part of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia. Mulayangu was a wanampi (water snake) who travelled all over this area creating rockholes. In 2020 Atipalku and her family travelled to this area and stayed at their homeland, Tangkana, for the first time in many years. Atipallku was able to show her children and grandchildren this special place and share stories with them that had been passed down to her. This painting depicts Atipalku’s father’s country with tjanpi (grass) and many tjukula (waterholes). 

 
Atipalku Intjalki is the matriarch of a highly regarded family of Ernabella artists. She was born in Ernabella on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and first started working at the art centre over fifty years ago. In those days the artists hand-spun sheep fleece into wool and then dyed it to weave floor rugs and wall hangings. In the 1970’s Atipalku excelled in creating batik silk works, some of which are held in the National Gallery of Australia. Today Atipalku is an accomplished tjanpi (grass) weaver, punu (wood) artist and painter. Atipalku’s work has been shown in over fifty exhibitions nationally and internationally. 
 
Atipalku’s husband Adrian Intjalki was an established punu artist and her son Jeffrey Lewis is well known for painting birds. Atipalku’s three daughters Michelle, Lynette and Langaliki Lewis are all established artists. Atipalku’s granddaughter Jayana Andy is also an emerging artist in the ceramics studio.