Gabriella Possum and her "Seven Sisters Dreaming"
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi is a contemporary Indigenous Australian artist who was born in 1967 in the Papunya community. She is the eldest daughter of the renowned artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. She spent her early life in Alice Springs and began painting with her father from a very young age
Gabriella's art reflects her connection to her Indigenous Australian heritage and often explores Dreamtime stories and ancestral narratives.Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi's art is highly celebrated, and she has exhibited her works both nationally and internationally. Her talent as a contemporary Aboriginal artist has earned her a respected place within the art community
Following in her father's footsteps, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi became an internationally respected painter. Examples of her work are displayed in many gallery collections including National Gallery of Australia, The Flinders University Art Museum, the kelton foundation collection and many more.
While her father's influences are apparent in her work, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi has also developed her own unique style like Seven Sisters Dreaming and Grandmothers Country.
SEVEN SISTERS DREAMING:
The "Seven Sisters Dreaming" is an ancient story that revolves around a group of seven ancestral sisters who travel across the land, pursued by a shape-shifting male figure. The sisters use their wisdom and cunning to outwit the pursuing male, who is depicted in various forms, such as a lustful man or a celestial being. The story is associated with the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters constellation, which can be observed in the night sky.
"Seven Sisters Dreaming," also known as "Seven Sisters Songline" or "Seven Sisters Tjukurpa," is a significant Dreamtime story among many Aboriginal Australian communities, particularly within the Central and Western desert regions. The Dreamtime stories, often referred to as "Tjukurpa" in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) language, hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. These stories encompass creation narratives, cultural knowledge, and guidance on how to live in harmony with the land.
