Rona Rubuntja, Hermannsburg Potters – 'Family Fishing at Glen Helen', 2023

Family going altogether for picnic and fishing at Glen Helen. Everyone is inside the Toyota, there's my nephew Colin Malbunka, sister Nellie Malbunka, Joshua Renkaraka, Elaine K, Joshua K and Nellie's grandkids Kevin and baby Jennifer. And me, Rona. We droveround the back way, past Tnorala (Gosse's Bluff). Me and Colin, Joshua K, little Kevin and Elaine were fishing there off the rocks, casting a line into the waterhole. We caught lots of little ones, had to throw 'em back. I caught six big fish, big enough to eat. We cook 'em on the fire and eat them all. It makes me feel good feeling, healthy inside. I love to eat fish, also kangaroo. When the sun was getting too hot, making us sweat, we jump into the water for swimming. Everyone was happy, kids racing, diving in the water. We filled that troops up at Glen Helen, $100 for diesel! We drove the other way home, past Ellery Creek. All the babies fell asleep in the car, full of fish, tired, happy.

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Rona Rubuntja joined the Hermannsburg Potters in 1998, and has since established herself as one of the most prominent senior artists of the group, participating in over twenty exhibitions in Australia and internationally, including her first solo exhibition 'Down the Road from Ntaria' at Sabbia Gallery in Sydney November 2022. Rubuntja's joyous style is distinctive, humorous and imaginative. Her storytelling ability comes across most strongly in her figurative work. She remains inspired by contemporary life in Ntaria, and her work often includes depictions of cattle and brumbies roaming country, heading out to the outstation in a Toyota, and collecting bush tucker with her extended family.

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Jugs

May 6- June 24

Read about the exhibition.

Jugs is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.

Material: terracotta and underglaze

Dimensions: approx. 49 x 32cm