ROSALIND TJANYARI - NGURA WIRU (GOOD COUNTRY)
ROSALIND TJANYARI
NGURA WIRU (GOOD COUNTRY), 2021
198 x 152 cm
acrylic on linen
REGION
Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, SA
PROVENANCE
Iwantji Arts, SA
Everywhen Art, Vic
Private Collection, USA
STORY
Rosalind Tjanyari’s practice is characterised by vibrant, gestural compositions that evoke the dynamic and often intangible pathways traversing Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Through her use of richly layered acrylics, Tjanyari communicates a deep sense of movement and spatial memory, alluding to the interconnectedness of Country, culture, and community.
Although not formally trained in the ngangkari (traditional healer) lineage of her mother, Kanakyia Tjanyari, and grandmother, Rosalind has cultivated a parallel vocation of care within her community. Her role as an Arts Worker at Iwantja Arts is both practical and relational—supporting artistic production through workshop facilitation, material preparation, and mentoring elder artists.
Tjanyari’s approach to artmaking reflects her broader philosophy of communal wellbeing and cultural vitality. As she explains, “I enjoy laughing and having fun. I want other people to enjoy the art centre like I do. It brings us together, working and sharing, and everyone is happy.” This ethos is visually embedded in her work, where a palpable energy and collective spirit are conveyed through colour, rhythm, and form. Her paintings serve not only as aesthetic expressions, but also as acts of cultural continuity and resilience.
