Seven Sisters by Freda Yimunya Lane, 46.2 x 152.8cm Cat 10486FL

Seven Sisters by Freda Yimunya Lane

Freda Yimunya Lane is a celebrated Ngaanyatjarra artist born in the 1940s between Papulankutja and Irrunytju, near the old Blackstone rockhole. Known for her vibrant and detailed paintings, Freda depicts the landscapes and experiences of her traditional life in Blackstone. Her artwork often reflects the journeys she undertook with her mother, traversing from rock hole to rock hole over many weeks.

the Seven Sisters is shared widely by many Aboriginal groups. The Seven Sisters Dreamtime story is an epic tale of lust, love, passion and danger. Artists who paint this Dreaming explain it is the story of an Ancestral Being in the guise of a man who relentlessly pursues seven sisters (Ancestral Women) over land and sky. They remain in the sky as Orion (the old man) and Pleides (seven sisters).

It is a celestial tale that narrates the journey of seven sisters, represented by the stars in the Pleiades cluster. The Seven Sisters Dreamtime Story stands as a mesmerising testament to the power of sisterhood, resilience, and the pursuit of autonomy .

In 1995, Freda participated in the first Tjanpi Desert Weavers workshop, marking the beginning of her involvement with this significant artistic movement. Her collaborative spirit shone through when she helped create the life-size grass Toyota, a project that won the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal Art Award in 2005. She has since exhibited widely and is a sought after artist.

Provenance for this painting is Papulankutja Artists, Blackstone Cat 07-07

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