Celena Tunkin b. 1997

Celena Tunkin was born in the remote Indigenous community of Kanpi in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, nestled in the Musgrave Ranges just 20km south of the Northern Territory border. Celena is an emerging artist from an area known for its rugged beauty, strong cultural law, and abundance of notable contemporary artists. Celena comes from the Baker family, a very famous painting family from the Kanpi community; including notable artists Jimmy Baker, Kay Baker, Teresa Baker and Kani (Patricia) Tunkin Baker.

Like many of her female relatives, Celena paints the story of ancestral woman Minyma Malilu, but more frequently paints the story of an emu who tells a lie to a bush turkey. The emu is deceptive and tries to convince the bush turkey to kill his son, claiming he has already killed his own. However, this is a trick and bush turkey is able to see past the lie, and protects his only son. Celena depicts the footprints of both birds, the bush turkey’s large nest, and the rocky outcrops of the Musgrave Ranges.