Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre - Mary Punchi Clement 'Kira Kiro Country' (m/war010)
Scarf featuring original artwork, "Kira Kiro Country," by Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre artist Mary Punchi Clement.
MATERIALS: Silk Chiffon
DIMENSIONS: 105cm x 105cm
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts is a living, growing art centre celebrating the uniqueness of Miriwoong cultural identity. Established in the 1980s, in the heart of Miriwoong country at Kununurra in the Kimberley region of northern Australia, Waringarri artists share the importance of their Country and Culture. Waringarri is the first wholly indigenous owned art centre established in Western Australia and one of the oldest continuously operating art centres in Australia supporting economic independence for artists and their community.
"My bush name is Muljay. "My father found me" at Ngarrandhu on the turtle, that’s my totem. He was a policeman tracker who used to bring parents and their kids back to the mission. He found my mother out there (in the bush) and carried her to the mission on horse back with him. They were both married already but they fell in love. I used to work in the convent looking after the sick kids but now I’m a Grandmother and I look after a lot of kids on the community." - Mary Punchi Clement
Mary painted ceremony and events, dancing and hunting as well as botanical themes, not limited to plants on land, but also fresh water and salt water aquatic plants known as food sources for sea creatures, an important part of Kalumburu culture. As a community Elder she held a wealth of knowledge regarding her cultural traditions which is deeply missed.
"This painting shows the country before the fires and before people started changing the environment."
Mary's work is inspired by the rich environment around her and depicts a record of her botanical knowledge. Her images are made up of a myriad of small brushstrokes in layers to represent her vast botanical knowledge describing bush foods and medicines.
Mary Punchi Clement passed away in 2016.
This item is available in Store at Midland Junction Arts Centre.
