Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty - Back from Bulgul

Helen's ability to express her ideas and experiences, and to make her ancient Dreaming stories relevant to the daily lives of her community, have catapulted her to the forefront of the contemporary Indigenous art scene.

Less than a year after becoming a full time artist, Helen was honoured to receive the People's Choice Award at the prestigious 24th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for her painting Tyemeny Liman's Wutinggi (Grandpa Harry's Canoe). She says of her grandfather "In his day he was the best canoe maker in his country. It's a sad story and a good story at the same time. It's the last canoe that he ever made." Helen's grandfather stopped making canoes when he heard that education would help his children. He left his country with a heavy heart and sent his children to school.

Helen's art can be multi-layered, complex and colourful, or it can be restrained, solemn and occasionally ominous. Each of her artworks is accompanied by a beautiful heartfelt story, which add another dimension to her work.