This is a Tjukurpa (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellation of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be the man Nyiru or Nyirunya.
Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest sister. The seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attention.
They turn into their human form to escape Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful ili (fig) tree for them to camp under.
However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the women fall victim to his ways. It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky, reforming the constellation.
At ReDot Fine Art Gallery, we acknowledge all the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands of the artists we represent, both past, present, and emerging. We have profound respect for all Indigenous people, and we strive through a thoughtful and culturally sensitive curation process of their artwork to represent their “Tjurkupa” to our global audience.
We prioritise authentic representation and ensure that the artists' voices and perspectives remain at the forefront of our platform’s objective.
By fostering collaborative partnerships and engaging with community art centres directly, we aim to create a safe and inclusive space that celebrates and preserves Indigenous cultural heritage and its artistic legacy.
At ReDot Fine Art Gallery, we acknowledge all the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands of the artists we represent, both past, present, and emerging. We have profound respect for all Indigenous people, and we strive through a thoughtful and culturally sensitive curation process of their artwork to represent their “Tjurkupa” to our global audience.
We prioritise authentic representation and ensure that the artists' voices and perspectives remain at the forefront of our platform’s objective.
By fostering collaborative partnerships and engaging with community art centres directly, we aim to create a safe and inclusive space that celebrates and preserves Indigenous cultural heritage and its artistic legacy.