Sonia Kurarra
Sonia was born in 1952 by a billabong in the Noonkanbah community. Her parents, Walmajarri people, settled by the Fitzroy River. Sonia has spent most of her life in Noonkanbah, where she has developed a deep connection to the land and river. A dedicated artist, Sonia also worked as a teacher's aide at the local school, where she encouraged children to engage in art-making. Her artwork reflects her intimate relationship with her homeland, featuring motifs from the river country, such as parlka (barramundi), brim, tortoise, stingray, pandanus trees, and the water itself.
"Martuwarra is my river country; this painting is all about the Fitzroy River which flows down through Noonkanbah where I live. All kinds of fish live in the water, and we catch a lot of fish here. I like parlka (barramundi). We also catch catfish and brim here. Nganku (shark), Wirritunany (swordfish), and stingray also live here. These fish remain in the waters long after the flood has receded. This painting depicts barramundi swimming on the surface of the water, with Wakiri (pandanus tree) and rocks all around. When the barramundi get tired, they retreat into the rock holes. These rock holes are home to all the parlka (barramundi) in the river. Kalpurtu (creator serpent-type being) also lives in these rock holes and swims around the Palma (creeks) and the Wakiri that grows in the river."
Sonia's piece, "Billabongs 2019," was a finalist in the 2021 36th Telstra NATSIAA Awards. Created on Perspex, the work can be viewed from both front and back, revealing the subtle structured layers of grids and circles representing the billabong country of the Fitzroy Valley after flood time. This transparency gives the artwork a different appearance on each side and is one of her last works on the Perspex medium.
Sonia was a pioneer in using Perspex for her art. She initially experimented with a discarded piece found in the studio and developed the medium to new heights. Her innovative approach inspired her sister, Mrs. Japulija (deceased 2020), and other Mangkaja senior artists to explore Perspex. Sonia and Mrs. Japulija collaborated on an ambitious Perspex installation, producing six three-meter-high panels of double-sided transparent work, which were hung from the ceiling and caused a sensation at the MCA Sydney during The National in March 2019.
Sonia's works are held in prominent collections, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Holmes a Court Collection, Gondwana Collection, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
