Earlier this year, Martumili Artists undertook the Return to Punmu project—an initiative that brought artists back to Punmu, a community some no longer live in but remain deeply connected to on Martu Country. The trip offered Martu artists the opportunity to reconnect with Country, reunite with family and the wider community, and work collaboratively on a large-scale painting. The two-day, two-car journey to Punmu was filled with excitement and anticipation for a creative and meaningful week together.
The trip welcomed senior artists May Chapman and Mulyatingki Marney back to Punmu—respected cultural leaders and painters whose knowledge and stories are central to Martumili’s legacy. Now living away from their homelands due to health and ageing, these elders have limited opportunities to return to Country. This journey provided a rare chance for them to paint alongside May’s daughter, Doreen Chapman, and other Punmu artists. Together with fellow artists Julia Burton, May Burton, and Sarafina Dickie, the group began work on a large collaborative painting that came to life over the course of the week.
Community members, including the next generation of Martumili Artists, visited the Punmu studio throughout the week, with students from Rawa School joining to observe and learn. During these visits, May Burton, May Chapman, and Mulyatingki Marney shared stories about the painting in progress, reflecting on their experiences during the pujiman (traditional, desert-dwelling) era, when survival depended on deep knowledge of Country and the location of essential resources.
Intergenerational cultural knowledge-sharing unfolded naturally throughout the week as the painting progressed and stories were exchanged over cups of tea. Artists were recognised not only for their creative contributions but also for their vital role in passing on cultural knowledge to younger generations during this special time on Country.
Words by Anna Spencer.
