Lot 87

Tjala Arts, South Australia (accompanied by a copy of the certificate of authenticity)
Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney
Private collection, Melbourne

"This is a Tjukurpa (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellation of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be the man Nyiru or Nyirunya.

Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest sister.

The seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape Nyiru's unwanted attention. They turn into their human form to escape Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky.

As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful ili (fig) tree for them to camp under.

However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the women falls victim to his ways.

It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky, reforming the constellation."

As stated on the APY Art Centre Collective certificate of authenticity.

© Nyunmiti Burton/Copyright Agency, 2025