Right Way to have a Kurri

In a Ngaanyatjarra world everyone is seen as having a relationship to everyone else, and this extends to both social and ceremonial life. People are divided into two groups, a ‘sun’ side and a ‘shade’ side, each with three subsections. Marrying correctly was a very strict part of Aboriginal law, constructing the system by which all social transactions between people might take place. The artist recalls a pie chart created by a missionary in the 1960’s, that showed the six different so called ‘skin groups’ and brings it to life again in this painting. The six groups are: Panaka, Tawurru, Milyangka, Yirparka, Karrimarra and Purrungu.