Martuwarra (Revisited) - Sonia Kurarra Solo

A Collection of Fine Mangkaja Indigenous Art


Martuwarra (Revisited) - Sonia Kurarra Solo

A Collection of Fine Mangkaja Indigenous Art


SONIA KURARRA

Martuwarra
287/19
Acrylic Paint on 3mm Poly-Carbonate
Martuwarra | 287/19
Acrylic Paint on 3mm Poly-Carbonate
200 x 60cm | 78.74 x 23.62in
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Sonia was born by a billlabong at Noonkanbah community. Her parents were Walmajarri whose movements led them to live by the Fitzroy River. Sonia has lived most her life at Noonkanbah. A compulsive artist, Sonia for a long time was a teacher’s aid at the local school where she facilitated art making with the children. Illustrative of her attachment to the country where she grew up, an intimate life with the river, Sonia’s art is a saturation of river country motifs, be it parlka (barramundi), brim, tortoise, stingray, pandanus trees or the water itself.

"Martuwarra is my river country; this painting is all about the Fitzroy River which ows down through Noonkanbah where I live. All kinds of ï¬sh live in the water, we catch big mob of ï¬sh here. I like Parlka (barrumundi). We catch catfish and brim here too. Nganku (shark), Wirritunany (swordï¬sh) and Stingray also live here. These ï¬sh live in these waters long after the ood has gone. Also this painting is about barrumundi swimming on the surface of the water, you can also see the Wakiri (pandanus tree) and rocks all around. When the barrumundi get tired they go back into the rock holes. These rock holes hold all the Parlka (barrumundi) that live in the river. Kalpurtu (creator serpent- type being) also live in these rock holes and swim all around the Palma (creeks) and all around the Wakiri that grows in the river."

Sonia was born by a billlabong at Noonkanbah community. Her parents were Walmajarri whose movements led them to live by the Fitzroy River. Sonia has lived most her life at Noonkanbah. A compulsive artist, Sonia for a long time was a teacher’s aid at the local school where she facilitated art making with the children. Illustrative of her attachment to the country where she grew up, an intimate life with the river, Sonia’s art is a saturation of river country motifs, be it parlka (barramundi),...