Scotty Tjakamara Multa Arches Paper 56x76cm WOP29

Scotty Tjakamara Multa is represented by Ikuntji Artists, one of the most important art centres in Central Australia. Established at Haasts Bluff, Ikuntji has been instrumental in bringing the voices of Western Desert artists to national and international attention, and is renowned for works characterised by bold colour, confident mark-making and a lineage of highly respected artists.

In this work, Scotty employs deep brown ochre tones, painted in acrylic on Arches paper, to convey an ancestral narrative grounded in Country. The U-shaped forms represent two ancestral men as they travel across the land, gathering berries and bush foods. The round and oval motifs mark the specific sites where food is collected, while the straight lines signify digging sticks—essential tools carried by the men as they move from place to place.

Through this restrained yet powerful visual language, Scotty transforms everyday acts of sustenance into a timeless expression of Tjukurrpa (Dreaming), where movement, survival and connection to Country are inseparable. The work speaks quietly but with authority, embodying the continuity of knowledge passed down through generations of Western Desert people.

Ikuntji catalogue no IK985M279