Artworks from the western Anangu Pitjantjatara Yankunytjatjara Lands

This collection of artwork, currently on display in the Gus Fraenkel Medical Library, relates to the Wanampi tjukurpa¹of the water snakes: important creation figures in the culture of the western desert Pitjantjatjara speaking Anangu. The artworks are on loan from the collection of Linnett Sanchez and David Turner. Over the past decade Linnett has headed a team which has assessed the hearing and ear health of school age children on the APY Lands in far northwest South Australia. During this time 25 staff and over 100 students of Flinders University have had the rare privilege of traversing the beautiful APY Lands and seeing the country of the Wanampi, in what we know as the Mann Ranges. The exhibition is a small tribute to the artists and to the Anangu whose children have a high prevalence of hearing loss and ear pathology which is not exceeded anywhere in the world. The exhibition is supplemented by an essay by Ann Axelby² who together with David, has curated the exhibition. A further painting was contributed by Ann Axelby to the exhibition.

¹ tjukurpa is a creation story embodying religion, law, morality and country

² Ann Axelby's essay: Wanampi: Rainbow Serpent of the Desert

The Gus Fraenkel Medical Library is open to the public.

Click here to see an index to the artworks on display - Wanampi Index