There has been a wonderful exhibition of Martu paintings at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and there is a new Martu exhibition called ‘We Don’t Need a Map’ in the Blue Mountains over the holiday period. Â This is currently being shown in Katoomba and is travelling regional Australia after its inaugural exhibition in Fremantle. Â It follows a display in Victoria and future showings will include Dubbo and Mooree. Â The exhibition includes the Telephone Booth Project illustrating the importance of communication across the vast desert region which once comprised burning a bundle of spinifex; and today the crucial community telephone. Â There is also a short film on the Cannibal story relating to Lake Disappointment and the danger of straying into this area; a short film on three screens taking you on a hunting expedition with Martu women; a series of artworks recounting the Rabbit Proof Fence story; a large body of paintings depicting various women’s birthing sites and a very special collaborative painting depicting country and explaining the mapping of the land Martu way.
One of the many artists included in the exhibition is Bugai Whyoulter whose paintings are really captivating. Â Â
Bugai is a Kartujarra speaking woman, of the Martu, who was born in 1940 on what is now Balfour Downs Station in WA. Â She lived nomadically with her family and her late husband, walking, hunting and travelling the Canning Stock Route through areas of the Western Desert, Â until eventually settling for a few years at Jigalong Community and then more recently at Kunawarritji. She was taught to paint by Nora Nungabar and Nora Wompi and these three often paint together.
Bugai was a finalist in the Telstra and various other Art Awards. Â She has participated in several Solo and very many group exhibitions spanning 2008 to 2013, including ‘We Don’t Need a Map’ and the touring exhibition, ‘Yiwarra Kuju’, which was shown at the Australian and the National Museums. Â Her work is included in the National Museum of Australia, GOMA in Queensland and the National Gallery of Victoria. Â Bugai is an important artist depicting a traditional landscape with deep knowledge and cultural richness as well as incredible beauty. Â We are very fortunate to be displaying these works for sale at Tali Gallery.
