Ancestors | SP-2714

DOB: 5 March 1988

Birthplace: Adelaide, SA

Language: Gurindji

Community: Katherine, NT


Sarrita King was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1988. She spent her youth in Darwin, where she resides today. Her father, the late William King Jungala was born in Katherine, Northern Territory and was from the Gurindji tribe with most of his family still living in the Northern Territory.

She and older sister, Tarisse, who is also an artist, grew up exposed to the painting of their father, a highly regarded Katherine Aboriginal artist who passed away in December 2007 at only 41 years of age. This was a sad loss not only for his family but also for Australian Aboriginal Art. Today Sarrita and her equally talented sister, Tarisse King, draw on his knowledge, traditions and philosophies in their art, with a strong sense of self and pride in their Gurindji heritage. Sarrita feels her art is a way of continuing to remember her father and all that he has passed on to her, including his amazing love of life.

Sarrita's connection to her Aboriginality and subsequently to the land and people flourished as she grew up in Darwin. Her ancestral Gurindji land was close by and from a young age she was exposed to the imperious weather and extreme landscapes that shaped her forefather's lives. In particular, the big storms, rains and lightning in the far horizon fascinated Sarrita, and was the subject of her first paintings.

Sarrita’s inspiration is the environment she was surrounded by growing up in the Northern Territory, from the big rains to the lightning storms and the constantly changing earth. Sarrita reflects on much of her experiences with family members, especially her father who taught her about her Aboriginal heritage, the elements, and the connection to our world in general.

In the years that have followed, Sarrita's desire to visually communicate her inspiration and the land has resulted in a suite of painting series that honour her father's philosophies, while providing a visual articulation of the earth's language.

Her representations of landscape are fresh in their depiction of the subject. The lack of horizon takes viewers inside the image, where the subtlety of surfaces, and the shapes and iconography awaken the senses.

As well as her individual artistic achievements, Sarrita continues to collaborate with her sister on large scale paintings and public art projects. Sarrita and Tarisse investigate other mediums to express their stories.

STORIES

Lightning.
Inspired by the big storms occurring in the Northern Territory. Growing up Sarrita was always fascinated by the rain and lightning seen in the distant horizon and would find new patterns and colors every time she watched these amazing natural occurrences.

Sandhills.
These paintings are inspired by the amazing sandhills found throughout Australia. Their colors and movements have always fascinated Sarrita. Her father would tell her how the patterns made by the wind are repeated throughout nature. She reflects on this when looking from a plane and seeing the similar movements of the sandhills and the waves of the ocean.

Water.
Inspired by the different water found throughout Australia, these paintings seek to capture the movement and the colors of this life-giving element. Sarrita listened to her father explain the importance of water to the Aboriginal culture and all humankind. She feels the elements are a connection to her father and the world around her.

Language of the Earth.
Representative of the earth’s story. The history of the land where we come from connects us to our family, our culture, and all living things. Sarrita seeks to express her impression of the land and some of its stories. The symbols within the painting are patterns for the viewer to connect with but the layout of the painting has its own story.

Fire.
The element fire inspires this painting. Not only is fire important to us and the land, it connects us with our ancestors. Sarrita’s father would explain the connection of all things in life and explain to her that her ancestors would experience the same connection to the earth as her when feeling the warmth of fire and looking into the deep colors.

Bush.
This painting reflects the beautiful range of colors found in the bush areas of Australia. The movement represented by the line work shows the amazing patterns formed throughout the different plant life.

Ancestors.
Her new 'Gurindji Ancestors' artworks also continue her artistic mission to keep her ancestral narrative alive and provides a new way of looking back while looking forward.

Dry season series incorporating intricate layers of rich reds, oranges, yellows and ochres to represent the landscape during the intense dry season. During these periods the land is so dry, old landmarks and features are revealed.

Wet season series painted in cool blues, violets, mauves and white to represent the landscape during the wet season. During these periods the landscape changes drastically with water pooling in parts of the landscape, replenishing the land which is vital to the survival of the Gurindji community.

Lake Eyre.
Beautifully evokes the seemly endless expanse of the glistening salt pan, which is transformed by desert downpours into a thriving oasis.