Nellie Ngampa Coulthard

Yankunytjatjara

Tjuntala Ngurangka - Country with Wattle (Acacia Murrayana)

2023
acrylic on linen
198 x 198cm
Courtesy of the artist

Artist bio

Nellie Coulthard was born in the bush near Wintinna Homestead. As a young woman Nellie worked in domestic service at Granite Downs Cattle Station where she met a young stockman who became her husband. They settled in Indulkana where Nellie played an important role in educating children at the newly established Indulkana pre-school. Nellie's paintings evoke memories of her nomadic childhood, spent on country near Oodnadatta and specifically refer to the Tjuntala (wattle) tree that are a source of bush food. Nellie was a finalist in the Wynne Prize at the AGNSW in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Artist statement

'I love painting the trees and flowers of the Country where I grew up - Yankunytjatjara Country near Oodnadatta.
After the rain and before the summer starts, the landscape here changes colour with lots of wattle blossoms. My favourites trees are Tjuntala (Acacia Murrayana) with its beautiful yellow flowers. Its seeds are small and lined up in a row inside brown seed pods. When I was young my parents taught me how to grind Tjuntala seeds into a paste to eat.
I paint the trees and flowers and it reminds me of my childhood, travelling on Country with my family.'
 

This artwork will be on display in the 2023 Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize Finalist Exhibition from Saturday 25 November 2023 until Sunday 18 February 2024.

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