Paper Wangka (Paper Story): Martumili Artists

cbOne Gallery is delighted to restage Paper Wangka (Paper Story) from Martumili Artist Gallery, Newman WA. Curated by Corban Clause Williams, Sylvia Wilson, and Robina Clause, Paper Wangka (Paper Story) was exhibited in May 2021 as an exhibition showcasing works on paper from established and emerging Martumili Artists. Corban, Sylvia and Robina worked round the clock with PAM (Professional Arts Management) to curate and install this very special exhibition, unearthing treasures from the Martumili archives.

For Martu, Country sustains life, and to care for Country is an essential part of living. This is done through land management practices that are thousands of years old, such as fire burning, which continues to be carried out as both an aid for hunting and a means of land management. During the pujiman (traditional, desert-dwelling) period, Martu would traverse very large distances annually in small family groups, moving seasonally from water source to water source, and hunting and gathering bush tucker as they went. At this time, one’s survival depended on their intimate knowlege of the location of resources. Martu care for Country ongoingly, through ranger work, research work, and artwork.

Martu document traditional ecological knowledge of their Country in their artworks archiving and passing on important information to future generations, and to the wider community. Chapman and Bailey brings Paper Wangka (Paper Story) from East Pilbara to Wurundjeri country Naarm (Melbourne). Presenting a selection of the works on paper from the original exhibition alongside paintings by the artists.

This exhibition is in collaboration with Martumili Artists.

Martumili Artists was established by Martu people living in the communities of Parnpajinya (Newman), Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji and Warralong, and it draws on strong influences of aboriginal art history. The artists and their families are the traditional custodians of vast stretches of the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts as well as the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) area. Most Martu people maintain an entirely independent, nomadic desert lifestyle until the 1950s and 1960s when they walked into settlements in response to a long and severe drought. Today, Martu people live in their own communities and regularly visit regional centres such as Newman and Port Hedland. Martumili Artists are based in the East Pilbara Arts centre in Newman, with artists working in the 6 other remote East Pilbara communities. Martumili Artists are an activity of the Shire of East Pilbara, and gratefully acknowledge BHP Billiton as their Principal Partner.