Anangu Tjuta Tjungu Warkarinyi is an exhibition which celebrates the successful collaboration between Mimili Maku Arts and Crafts and Iwantja Arts. Located at the eastern end of the APY Lands in northern South Australia, each community has its own art centre; geographically adjacent, demographically similar, historically akin and with close family ties they enjoy a close working relationship.

Iwantja and Mimili Maku artists often paint together to exchange ideas and have formed a symbiotic connection, which has improved the arts practice and enhanced the artists’ self esteem.

As art centre managers Helen Johnson and Toni Galer have worked closely together, offering a combined support network, professional development and encouragement which, together with the artists’ commitment has culminated in this show entitled Anangu Tjuta Tjungu Warkarinyi - Many Anangu Working Together.

Iwantja Arts

Iwantja Community is mainly Yankunytjatjara people living on the eastern side of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, 8 kilometres from the Stuart Highway in the far north of South Australia, on a dusty rocky ridge called Indulkana.

Indulkana Arts Association started in the seventies. Initially used for secondary student's art lessons, the building used was so crowded at times that the teacher had to mark spots on the floor in the morning to make sure they all had room! Skills were learnt and the beginnings of a clear identity formed. People did traditional wood carving (punu), batik, patchwork, dying, painting and around the early eighties linoblock printing started. Over 100 prints and many drawings from that time are in the South Australian Museum.

Iwantja Arts and Crafts moved into the Family Centre in January 1995. Since then Iwantja has gone from strength to strength on the basis of its strong cultural identity and impressive output.

Mimili is sited within the beautiful Everard Rangers on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the north-west of South Australia and 488 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs. Mimili is home to 300 Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people who have been living in the area for millennia in harmony with nature and acting as custodians of the land and the Tjukurpa (creation stories).

The Art Centre opened in 2004 to all members of the community and they produce local art, wooden artifacts (punu), woven baskets (tjanpi) and necklaces. The Art centre is an integral element for the Mimili community, and is a genuine means in which the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara cultures can survive and be passed on to the next generation.