Tjulpu (Red river gum), 613-24TA, Tjala Arts, 50 x 11cm
The Anangu (people) Pitjantjatjara made and still make various wooden implements, known as punu (anything of wood), for digging, hunting and gathering food. In the late 1960's they were encouraged to burn traditional symbols and designs onto the punu to make them attractive as artifacts for sale. Decorated punu have become an important sources of income for Anangu.The design is burnt into the punu by heating wire pokers in a fire. The artists usually have six to eight pokers heating at one me so they can quickly change pokers as they cool down. This punu is made from Red River Gum or Apara, as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara know it. The roots of the Apara are white with a red centre. They are dug up and cut into lengths to make carvings such as pi (large wooden bowls for carrying), firewood, and children’s toys. The Apara habitat is restricted to the banks and beds of sandy water courses or creeks. Tjulpu is the general term for 'bird' in Pitjantjatjara.
