CKB Art Prize

14 September – 18 October 2024
Goldfields Arts Centre
Wangkatja Country, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA

A huge congratulations to Yangyangkari Roma Butler who has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize with her sculptural piece Inura Kukaputju (Hunting Dingo).

"Early one morning near the road to Irrunytju, near Kunapula, was this dingo, looking for a rabbit hole, and waiting for a rabbit to appear. This dingo was so hungry, and he also had a hungry wife and baby waiting at home for him too.

This rabbit came out of the rabbit hole, slowly, and started to eat some grass. This rabbit was careful at first, keeping watch on its surroundings and staying close to its home.

The hungry dingo stayed hiding in the long grass, looking through the trees, sitting still and watching this rabbit. The dingo waited until the rabbit moved further and further away from the burrow, knowing this meant the rabbit was also getting further away from its safe place.

Moving slowly and quietly, the dingo crept towards this rabbit, closer and closer, all the time watching, and making no sound.

Then suddenly - this hungry dingo got that rabbit! He ate that rabbit right up, and then settled back in the long grass, alert and ready to hunt another one to take back to his family." - Yangyangkari Roma Butler 

Yanyangkari Roma Butler is a weaver belonging to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group. She was born in 1959 at Wilu Rockhole, on the kanyala tjukurpa track near Amata in South Australia. Yanyangkari spent her early years at Ernabella Mission and then travelled by camel to Milyirrtjarra (Warburton) in Western Australia where she went to school. She then lived in Irrunytju (Wingellina) before relocating to Warakurna, WA, where she resides today.

A joyous woman of many talents, Yanyangkari is a wonderful storyteller, keen hunter and knowledge holder, and loves to work with young women to teach and maintain culture. Yanyangkari is an award-winning Tjanpi sculptural artist, and her Tjanpi artworks are recognisable by their dynamism and character, quirky details, and inventive stitching.

The CKB Art Prize is held at the Goldfields Art Centre on Wangkatja Country in WA. The winner will be announced on Friday 13 September. Good luck Roma!