SYDNEY.- A new exhibition by Indigenous artists called WALKA is on view at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre until December 7 with more than 120 diverse works from the artists of Maruku Arts in central Australia.

Maruka is an Aboriginal art organisation owned and governed by Anangu artists from the Central and Western Desert regions of Australia. Maruka is home to over 500 Anangu artists and serves 22 communities in the Western and Central Desert. The 35 years old Aboriginal owned organisation specialises in Punu (wood carvings).

Traditional wood carvings go back to the beginning of mankind. They were essential for Anangu survival and are still the keepers of culture and tradition - Tools and sculptures carried the designs that were later transferred to acrylic paintings.

Maruku is not only serving established artists by collecting the finished works and selling them to customers but also through nurturing the development of emerging artists to keep culture and tradition alive into the future.

Walka is the Pitjantjatjara word for design in a wider sense. Walka carries the essence of Anangu culture. The forms, symbols and patterns reflect the Tjukurpa of each individual artist and were taught to them by family members.

The walka boards and paintings are new media introduced by the Western artworld which depict the ancient designs of the desert.




Kathryn Queama translates her beautiful tali (sand dune) design from her carved birds onto canvas. The weapons set of Ian Rictor, Errol Evans and Danny Fox present quite different regions and designs.

Sandy Willie is a senior law-man who weaves his sacred knowledge into his paintings.

The bowls and digging sticks and the works of Dianne Strangways reflect tradition and modern forms.

Reggie Uluru’s nocturnal paintings of perentie lizards is an innovative representation of a major desert Tjukurpa.

The collaboration between furniture designer Anthony Hurd and Billy & Lulu Cooley represents the possibilities that lie ahead of us for Anangu and Western artists to integrate Walka into contemporary furniture design which works in two worlds.

Many of the works are available for purchase and for collectors to support artists from the central and western desert regions.

ARTISTS Kathryn Queama, Ian Rictor, Errol Evens, Tanya Singer, Danny Fox, Delilah Ferguson, Lily Bates, Cynthia Burke, Adele Jennings, Sally Anne Foster, Angkaliya Mitchell, Debra West, Nancy Carnegie, Elizabeth Holland, Dianne Golding, Dianne Strangeways, Lulu & Billy Cooley with Anthony Hurd, Reggie Uluru, Rene Kulitja, Selina Kulitja, Juddy Trigger, Veronica Reid, Francine Kulitja, Marlene Cooley, Nyukana Norris, Donna Porter, Dorcas Bennett, Freda Teamay, Isaak Lewis, Yangi Yangi Fox, Dallas Smythe.