Vivian Pingkayi Thompson Pitjantjatjara, b. 1978
10 x 5 1/4 in
Kungkarangkalpa means the Seven Sisters. This is an extensive creation story that relates to the Pleiades
constellation in the southern hemisphere. The story traverses Australia taking on different forms, however local
women are privy to the part of the story which takes place in the country near Ernabella. For this part of the
story, the man called Nyiru is chasing the sisters as he wants to sleep with the oldest sister. All the younger
sisters are deeply afraid of him. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters, he tries to catch them by using magic to turn
himself into the most tempting bush tomatoes for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful ili (fig) tree for the
sisters to camp under. However, the sisters are aware of his magic and go hungry and run through the night
rather than be caught by Nyiru. Eventually, to escape Nyiru, the sisters fly into the sky where they turn into stars
and form the constellation.