Our Karen Napaljarri Barnes show is proving to be popular with visitors young and old. Her depictions of Ngatijirri Jukurrpa (Budgerigar Dreaming) and the birds and animals that live around Yuendumu have such a great charm and presence that they really do stop you in your tracks.
Upstairs visitors can enjoy a salon hang of Karen’s latest body of work simply bursting with colour. Large statement pieces and more affordable smaller works makes it a lively, dynamic show with something for everyone.
Karen is one of Warlukurlangu’s exciting next generation of artists. She caught the attention of the art world some years ago when she showcased her depictions of Ngatijirri Jukurrpa (Budgerigar Dreaming) – using a naïve portrayal of the birds and a very abstract representation of the landscape, favouring bold and contrasting colours. In recent years, Karen has extended her repertoire and has taken great delight in depicting the animals that live around Yuendumu (scroll down for a beautiful selection of her muses, courtesy of Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu!).
Karen’s distinctive style extends an existing Warlukurlangu reputation for innovative and expressive use of bold colour, of which her grandmother, the great Judy Napangardi Watson, was one of the trailblazers. In fact, when Karen first started painting for Warlukurlangu, you would find Karen sitting next to her grandmother, who would not only encourage her to paint but teach her all the important cultural stories and traditions.
This really is a delightful show and the KOG Crew just love seeing visitors to the gallery meet Karen’s quizzical critters, discover their unique charm and personality, and leave with a smile.
Some beautiful images of Karen and her muses. All images © Warlukurangu Artists of Yuendumu
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