Womens Ceremoniesby Kim West Napurrula

Kim West Napurrula is a Pintupi woman born in approximately 1960 near Kiwirrkurra Community in the Gibson Desert of Western Australia. Kim is the daughter of Freddy West Tjakamarra, one of the original groups of Indigenous men involved in Papunya Tula Artists and its creation. Her brother Bobby West is a well know spokesperson for Papunya Tula and a traditional owner of Kiwirrkurra.

In 1963 whilst Kim was a small child her family was met by a welfare patrol officer, it was a historic time when Aboriginal people were being transitioned out of the bush and into settlements. It was a time when families that had come in from the desert were trying to make contact with those who were left behind. Her family had been camping at Willi Rockhole, just east of Kintore at the time.

Kim was married to Yuendumu George (now deceased) and has lived at Kiwirrkurra for most of her life. Her traditional country is Marrapinti, a significant women’s Dreaming site which incorporates water soakages in the desert country which runs along the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Kim is considered an emerging artist and she has maintained her father’s links to Papunya Tula Artists, this has allowed her the exposure of several exhibitions around Australia with Papunya Tula Artists as well as some other galleries.

In her paintings Kim depicts her traditional country and the sacred women’s ceremonies which are carried out in honour of the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) of the Pintupi people. Her artworks are often simply titled “Women’s Ceremonies”. Central Art is extremely proud to be able to showcase some of her artworks and support her throughout her career as she continues to gain exposure.

In 2013 an exhibition was held by Japingka Gallery as a tribute to the late Dorothy Napangardi, Kim’s artworks were featured in the exhibition simply titled “Dorothy Napangarti & Kim West Napurrula”. The exhibition gained significant media coverage at the time and also promoted and exposed Kim’s artwork to the art world on a larger scale.

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