Minma Marlilu Tjukurrupa

Clarise Tunkin

This is a story of creation & love, of an elderly spirit woman Marlilu who travelled across country in pursuit of her daughter. She dug a cave with tunnels; locals brought her food. She lived in the cave for years after failing to retrieve her daughter from the wrong man. They say you can feel her spirit when the cool wind blows through the cave.

Clarise Tunkin is a Pitjantjatjara artist from a highly recognized family of artists. Her great-grandfather was Jimmy Baker (c.1915-2010) a foundation artist at Kanpi where his family were the traditional owners for the outstation and its lands. Clarise’s grandmother Kay Baker and mother Teresa Baker have continued the very strong artistic tradition of the family.

Clarise Tunkin paints in a style recognisably linked to the artistic tradition on the APY Lands in general and to her own family throughout the previous three generations. She has been exhibiting her work since 2015 in galleries across Australia.