NATSIAA Winner Iluwanti Ken is preparing a path for young artists

At the 2020 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Iluwanti Ken from the APY Lands of South Australia won the Works on Paper prize.

Originally from Waturu, she has been living in Amata for the past 15 years with family.

‘I get my inspiration from my country. Country holds the Tjukurpa (cultural law) the wisdom, this is what inspires and informs my artwork,’ Iluwanti said.

‘I paint the Walawulu, the Eagle. I have actually painted the eagle for years and I also make sculptures of the eagle with Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Eagles have lots of lessons to share with Anangu women, particularly in regard to motherhood.’

‘Protecting, feeding and caring for children, Anangu women have always looked to the eagles for these lessons.’

These lessons bind the generations over time and form a cultural and artistic foundation that has made the APY Lands such a rich source of artwork.

‘I learned my culture from the senior women of my family.  Senior women and men instruct the younger generations every day in Tjukurpa and painting technique,’ Iluwanti said.

‘You learn the Tjukurpa the cultural stories and then you learn your technique. It’s up to every artist to work hard and develop their technique.’

And it’s the next generation which is a major focus of Iluwanti. She is a Director of Tjala Arts as well as Director of the APY Art Centre Collective, a regional organisation. 

‘For elders and leaders of APY Communities we are focused on creating a better future for younger generations and the work we do at the Art Centre supports everyone in community.’

‘It is the most important thing I am working on because if we grow our art centre business, we will create a better future for the next generations. A future of jobs, independent income and the opportunity to explore the world. These are the opportunities that come from being an artist.’

Iluwanti began painting around 20 years ago but when she transitioned to producing large ink drawings on paper, her work ‘came alive’ and galleries started demanding her art.

‘My style has changed a lot over the years. The works on paper are my favourite works.  I am currently making the best works of my life and I love working at the art centre every day,’ Iluwanti said.

‘The elders and I are very proud of our art centre Tjala Arts. We have worked hard and grown a very strong business.’

Iluwanti is not stopping anytime soon. There are several exhibitions coming up with Tjala Arts and she is preparing works for another prize.

‘We also have some terrific projects overseas; these are regional projects that we work on with the APY Art Centre Collective.’

Iluwanti said she is proud to have won the prize and is grateful to family for their support, especially her departed husband.

‘I wanted to make a special mention of my lovely husband Kunmanara (Brenton) Ken. He was a wonderful, kind man and very supportive of my work. He passed away last year. Our family misses him every day but we know he would be very proud of the wonderful things we are achieving through our art centre.’