sabbia gallery

Ceramics, Glass + Fibre

Gallery Two   31 May - 24 June 2023

Elizabeth Dunn – Kampurara : Bush Tomato

Sabbia Gallery is pleased to present Kampurara, Elizabeth Dunn’s first solo exhibition.

Elizabeth Dunn lives and works in the community of Pukatja on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the remote north-west corner of South Australia.

Elizabeth’s work comments on the environmental change that has occurred on her Country due to the introduction of non-native fauna such as cattle, and flora, notably weeds like buffel grass. Buffel grass is so widespread and destructive that it is commonly known in and around Pukatja as tjanpi mamu or devil grass.

From the very start of Elizabeth’s artistic practice she has drawn her Kampurara Tjukurpa (Bush Tomato Story) in clay. In the old times kampurara were one of the main foods for Anangu.

Today, sometimes we still go out and collect them but not like we did before. Our country has been changed by cattle and weeds like buffel grass, so we can’t find all the old foods like we once did. I’ll keep telling the kampurara story in my work, that keeps the stories, songs and dances about these important foods alive and strong.

Elizabeth Dunn, 2023