06. Barbara Milpati Baker

06. Barbara Milpati Baker

Title: Ngapaṟi Tjukurpa
Prize Status: First Nations Artist Prize Winner
Category: Emerging Artist, First Nations Artist
Dimensions (cm): 137h x 180w
Medium: Acrylic On Canvas

Statement:

Barbara Milpati Baker is painting her grandmother’s Tjukurpa from a place to the west of Watarru, near the Western Australian border. This country is located in the APY lands in South Australia. Ngapaṟi Tjukurpa is about the little white spots you find on the green leaves of the Iṯaṟa (river red gum). This white residue is made by insects, and Aṉangu love to collect it. You scratch it off the leaves and make into a ball to eat it. It tastes really delicious, sweet and soft.

Barbara paints this story as a way to keep her Tjukurpa and connection to Ngura (Country) strong while living in Adelaide.

Represented By: Iwiri Arts (Iwiri Aboriginal Cooperation)