Riding camels – Warburton Mission times
Eunice Yunurupa PORTER: artist
Eunice Yunurupa Porter grew up immersed in traditional Ngaanyatjarra design and aesthetic. In 2015, she won the Western Australian Artist Award prize at the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards for her paintings, which reference life in a remote community. In this painting, Mrs Porter depicts a scene from her early years living at Warburton Mission, Western Australia. The gaiety of learning and child’s play form the central narrative of the painting, yet there is information embedded in the work. For instance, we see the layout of the mission, with its cottages and windmill water tank; as well as the traditional Aboriginal shelters located in the distance. Is this simply a depiction of living arrangements, or is Mrs Porter pointing to something more? Whatever the case may be, Mrs Porter’s paintings offer us an insight into experiences that may be outside of our own. Her use of recycled tin gives the painting an extra creative edge.
Title
Riding camels – Warburton Mission times
Artist/Maker and role
Eunice Yunurupa PORTER: artist
Date
2014
Medium
synthetic polymer paint and recycled tin on plywood
Measurements
60.4 x 80.3 cm
Credit line
Gift of Nicholas and Ozlem Wallwork under the Commonwealth Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2016
© Eunice Yunurupa Porter, courtesy Warakurna Artists
The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia
Accession number
2016/0032