Celena Tunkin b. 1997
17 3/4 x 23 5/8 inches
In this painting, Celena depicts aspects of an Emu
& Bush Turkey story from the APY Lands, taught to her by her grandmother, Kay Baker. The emu tells a lie to a bush turkey (also known as an Australian bustard). The emu
is deceptive, and claims that he has killed his son, and tries to convince the
bush turkey to do the same. But the bush turkey sees through the emu’s lies and
is able to keep his only son. In this painting, Celena depicts the footprints
of both the birds, the bush turkey’s nest, and the rocky outcrops of the
Musgrave Ranges.