Karrinyarra (Mt Wedge)

Emma Daniel Nungurrayi is a well respected elder known for her deep knowledge of Warlpiri culture. Daniel is the sister of the well known artist Don Tjungurrayi and lived with her brother for a number of years at Mt Doreen, near Yuendumu. She then spent time at Papunya and now lives in Alice Springs. Daniel has painted occasionally throughout her life, and only started to paint regularly following the establishment of Ngurratjuta Iltja Ntjarra art centre in Alice Springs in 2004. This art centre caters for the numerous artists from diverse language groups living in Alice Springs who would otherwise have no representation.

Daniel first exhibited at the annual Desert Mob exhibition at Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs in 2003 and held her first solo exhibition at Indigenart Gallery, Perth in 2006. In addition to her art practice Daniel is also known for her dancing and was one of the dancers who performed a welcome dance for Prince Charles when he visited Alice Springs in 2005.

'Karrinyarra (Mt Wedge)' 2007 depicts the important site of Karrinyarra which lies to the north of Papunya, in southern Warlpiri country. Daniel is a traditional custodian of Karrinyarra and her paintings evidence her strong attachment to this country. Her use of assured brushstrokes, bold colour and line infill rather than the more commonly used dotted infill gives her works a sense of movement and rhythm enlivening the composition. Daniel's gestural and energetic works are quite different from the work currently being produced by other Warlpiri artists and in their spontaneity hold similarities to the early works produced by the female artists of Papunya Tula in the 1990s.

© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2007