ESTHER BRUNO NANGALA

Esther Bruno Nangala is an Aboriginal artist whose work is grounded in the depiction of a significant ancestral site known for its abundance of bush raisins. This Dreaming story forms part of important women’s cultural knowledge and was passed down to Esther by her grandmothers, Nancy Ross Nungurrayi and Naata Nungarrayi (deceased), both highly respected and celebrated painters of the Western Desert movement.

Her paintings draw on this inherited knowledge, using traditional iconography and symbolism to represent both the landscape and the activities of women as they gather bush foods. Through carefully structured compositions, Esther depicts the process of searching for the small, prized bush raisins — a vital and nutritious desert food source.

Once collected, the fruit is traditionally cleaned by tossing it into the air to remove sand and debris. It is then ground on large stone surfaces into a paste, which is shaped into compact balls. These can be easily carried across long distances, serving as a portable and sustaining sweet food.

Esther’s work reflects both the practical and cultural importance of this process, embedding knowledge of food preparation, movement across Country, and women’s roles within the landscape. Her use of repeated forms and symbolic elements evokes the rhythm of gathering and preparation, while also mapping the physical and cultural terrain.

Through her paintings, Esther Bruno Nangala continues the transmission of women’s cultural knowledge, honouring the teachings of her grandmothers while contributing to the ongoing vitality of contemporary Aboriginal art.