A lot of stories are still being recounted of long journeys of people from various language groups, who travelled from rockholes and waterholes to caves and mountains finally arriving at Haasts Bluff. The locals, Luritja people of Haasts Bluff, were already here. Thus Haasts Bluff is a community rich of diversity in language and culture.
Ikuntji Artists was first established in 1992, the artists draw their inspiration from their personal ngurra (country) and Tjukurrpa (Dreaming). They interpret the ancestral stories by using traditional symbols, icons and motifs. The artistic repertoire of Ikuntji Artists is diverse and includes for example: naive as well as highly abstract paintings told by each artist in their personal signature style. Throughout the 27 years of its existence the art movement in Ikuntji has flourished and constantly left its mark in the fine art world. At the same time the art centre has been the cultural hub of the community, maintaining, reinforcing and reinvigorating cultural practices through art-making.
Today Haasts Bluff has a population of around 150 people, Ikuntji Artists has eight key artists, who exhibit in Australia and internationally and are represented in major collections across the globe.
Works from Ikuntji Artists exhibit daily from July 7 to 25 on the City of Perth’s Northbridge Piazza Superscreen and Forrest Place’s Arts Screen as part of the Goologoolup NAIDOC Screenings. See the festival guide for screening times. ((https://screenarts.com.au/goologoolup-24/)
Image credit
Pirrnpirrnga – Desert Bore (2021) Ann Lane
Image Courtesy of Ikuntji Artists
About the screening
The Northbridge Piazza Screen hosts a variety of screenings, from formal events like feature films, complete with bean bag seating for viewers, to more casual gatherings for sporting events and exhibitions (such as this screening). Here, visitors can relax on the lawn, savour the renowned culinary delights of Northbridge, or enjoy a stroll along James Street, taking in the vibrant artwork