Derek Jungarrayi Thompson
Ceramic Artist, APY Lands, South Australia, Australia
Sabbia Gallery represents the premier ceramic artists from Ernabella including Alison Milyika Carroll, Pepai Jangala Carroll, Elizabeth Dunn, Rupert Jack, Lynette Lewis, Carlene Thompson, Derek Jungarrayi Thompson and Thomas Ilytjari Tjilya.
Ernabella Arts is Australia’s oldest, continually running Indigenous art centre. Established in 1948 and incorporated in 1974, the art centre is known for strong and diverse art making in the mediums of painting, ceramics, tjanpi and punu.
In our country, the APY Lands, we have seven art centres. Every day we come to work in the art centre. Ernabella Arts started in 1948 and it’s still going. We own our art centre. We paint tjukurpa – dreaming stories. We make strong, beautiful work and it will always be there. Our stories are from a long time ago and they will live in the future with our children. When they grow up they will be working here. They will be the owners of our art centre and will keep our culture strong.
Derek’s artworks often depict Tjukurpa (story) relating to Wanampi (Rainbow Serpent) or hunting stories.
