The piti or wooden bowl is a traditional woman’s carrying vessel for food and water. Contemporary artists use walka, patterns burnt into the wood with wire heated on a wood fire. These relate Tjukurpa, stories about the Tjukuritja (Creation Ancestors) and the activities which shaped the land, the people and their law. Many of the details of Tjukurpa are restricted to senior custodians so it is not possible to describe the full story behind the walka.
Nyalpingka Simms’ walka of curving lines is one of the most classic of traditional desert design. Often described as sand dunes, they can also be seen as the shapes of people sleeping together in their windbreaks. In telling stories, women sit flicking sticks in the sand as they talk and they say walka is like this, the rhythmic strokes that accompany stories.
Nyalpingka Simms is yulkumunu Yarnangu, a senior Aboriginal woman from the Western Desert area. Born in the bush, she spent her early days living a traditional lifestyle before moving to Warburton Mission where many Ngaanyatjarra people settled. Nyalpingka now lives at Tjuntjuntjara and is married to Spinifex elder Lennard Walker. As well as being a traditional carver, her painting work has been exhibited widely for the last 25 years.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
