Niningka Lewis

2019, acrylic and burnt etching on plywood
30 x 60 cm (diptych)  
Cat No WBS758-19

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Punu – Living Wood
Maruku Arts

Niningka Lewis is an artist whose creative innovation is loved by many. Born between the mission settlement of Areyonga and Tempe Downs cattle station in the Northern Territory, she grew up in the Ernabella area, making regular trips throughout her traditional lands. After living and working in Kalka and Ernabella for many years where she was a painter and ceramic artist. Niningka now resides at Mutitjulu in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and is a leading wood etcher and carver with Maruku Arts. She also works with Tjanpi Desert Weavers, sculpting and weaving native grass artefacts.

The Piltati Tjukurpa belongs to the ranges in far northern South Australia. It tells of two women, seen here with their piti munu wana (collecting bowls and digging sticks), who set out hunting and gradually draw further and further away from home. They dig burrow after burrow hoping to find small game. Their husbands follow them and transform into Wanampi, water snakes, to lie in wait for their wives in the water hole known as Piltati. When the woman approach they are startled by the Snake Men who leap up and swallow them whole. The four then become Wanampi together at Piltati.

– MARUKU ARTS