Hermannsburg Potters: Pmara nurnaka nurna lhamala relhe ingkwia nurnaka nurna mapa-lela (Country visiting with all of our old people)
This collection of new works by Hermannsburg Potters share special stories and memories of the artists’ time spent visiting Country with their old people.
These pots are about going back to Country with our families and our old people. We grew up Country visiting with Grandparents, learning with Uncles, Aunties and Parents. Learning to hunt, visiting the little camps everywhere. Just one big group, in two cars maybe.
After the old people pass on we show this all to the little ones, to the next generations. Then they can take on the stories and share them on again.
– Beth Mbitjana Inkamala
Judith Pungarta Inkamala
Anita Mbitjana Ratara
Dawn Ngala Wheeler
Beth Mbitjana Inkamala
Andrea Pungarta Rontji
Alizha Panangka Coulthard
Dalissa Brown
Josie Naminjimpa Fly
Michelle Pareroultja
Rona Panangka Rubuntja
The Hermannsburg Potters are a dedicated group of Western Arrarnta artists creating vibrant handmade ceramic pots that encompass collective and individually lived histories in their distinct Country.
The Hermannsburg artists continue a 30-year legacy, sculpting and painting their visual histories and contemporary settings, speaking to their cultural beliefs, traditions and values.
Each artist works with a high level of skill in both hand-building pottery and watercolour-style landscape painting. These dynamic skills allow the artworks to evolve into individual depictions of the artist’s love for the local wildlife, memories of Country, community and traditions, as well as elements of contemporary life.
The vibrant and unique forms are made from terracotta clay working with the hand coil-pinch technique and finally painted with ceramic underglaze. The senior artists work with a style of painting reminiscent of Albert Namatjira, whose legacy continues to inspire the local community and its artists. This playful combination of mediums creates distinct work which had been widely exhibited and collected in Australia and overseas.
The pottery continues today with four longstanding, founding members who are currently mentoring more than 12 emerging artists to continue their work at the Art Centre. The Hermannsburg Potters support the local artists and their families, fostering the growing local economy of Hermannsburg.
