Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin Antaṟa

This is Antaṟa, South Australia, a sacred place for Aṉangu and the site of the maku (witchetty grub) tjukurpa. Tuppy Goodwin, a first-time Wynne Prize finalist, exclusively paints this storyline as she has cultural commitments to care for it. This is an old story that has come from Country and is not to be interfered with but maintained. In her words, ‘tjunkukatingu mantangka tjunu pampuntja wiyangku wantima.’ Goodwin sees her artwork being a true reflection of this ancient knowledge.

There are three main tjukurla (rock holes) at Antaṟa, where women will perform inma (dance and song). After they have shared the maku tjukurpa, maku will be collected for food.

Goodwin is a strong leader for young Aṉangu and encourages the next generation to travel to Antaṟa, to see that the maku tjukurpa is alive at this place. As she explains, ‘By physically going there and witnessing it with their eyes, they will hold embodied knowledge … within their own minds.’