Watarru Collaborative

The artists of Watarru have received high acclaim for their collaborative paintings. Their initial collaborative works were commissioned by the Department for Environment and Heritage and now hang permanently in the South Australian Parliament. These are the first Indigenous paintings to hang in parliament house. In 2007 they won a major prize in the national Drawing Together competition sponsored by the Australian Public Service Commission, a competitive award, which attracted over 570 entries from across Australia. Tjungu Palya : Located about 100kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country traditionally owned by the Pitjantjatjara people. These ranges known to Anangu as Murputja, likening the mountain to the bony ridge of a person’s spine, are the source of many water holes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements. Over fifty artists from Murputja joined together with family members living in traditional country 180kms to the south at Watarru and created Tjungu Palya (Good Together). The artists involved in this work vary but are generally, Beryl Jimmy, Tinpulya Mervin, Wipana Jimmy and Imitjala Pollard. Tjungu Palya is 100% owned and managed by Aboriginal people ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community. Tjungu Palya promotes cultural integrity and the ethical sales of authentic art.