The Mossenson Galleries, in conjunction with Ikuntji Arts Centre is proud to present Ngankirritja, an exhibition of new paintings by women artists from one of the central desert's most influential and respected arts communities. Ngankirritja will present paintings depicting the wildlife, bush tucker, stories and country of the desert area in images overflowing with colour and warmth.

Situated at Haasts Bluff, 230 kilometres west of Alice Springs, Ikuntji Arts Centre is nestled between the breathtaking outcrops of the Ulampawarru, Anyali and Mereenie Ranges. As the shifting desert light wanders across the mountains it creates a rich tapestry of colours and forms that is reflected and celebrated in the paintings of the artists of Ikuntji. This jubilant expression of colour and line has earned the women of Ikuntji international acclaim and redefined the boundaries of Indigenous painting.

Thirteen years since it was "sung open" by the women of Haasts Bluff, Ikuntji Arts Centre continues to be the focal point for the community and the hub of a thriving artistic movement. This is evident in Ngankirritja, which features three generations of emerging women artists from Haasts Bluff. Some, like Linda Ngitjanka and Anmanari Napanangka are now aged in their 70s, while at 26 years old, Daphne Napparrulla Marks is the youngest artist represented in the exhibition. In most cases, the younger generation of painters included in Ngankirritja are the daughters of senior painters working at Ikuntji and Papunya Tula. Like their parents, they share a commitment to preserving and extending the rich cultural heritage of their people by documenting the rich desert country that surrounds them.

Ngankirritja testifies to this continuing engagement of the women of Ikuntji with their culture and country. Pictures of wildlife, bush tucker, traditional ceremonies and stories and desert country are presented in a combination of abstract and figurative imagery.

The vibrancy of colour and form within these works provides a sensual visual experience that confounds the stereotypical notion of the desert as a barren place. As individual pieces they create a blueprint of an artist's life, and as a whole they build an indelible picture of the landscape and community of Haasts Bluff.

Ngankirritja: Paintings from Ikuntji features the work of Narputta Nangala Jugadai, Katungka Napanangka, Alice Nampitjinpa, Marlene Jack Pareroultja, Maluya Jugadai-Zimran, Linda Ngitjanka, Anmanari Napanangka, Daphne Napparulla Marks, Jillian Kantarwarra and Janie Sharp.