'From the Desert to the Sea' Rita Watson Art Exhibition at TIGMI

Tigmi are bringing the incredible work of Pitjanjatura artist Rita Watson from the Desert to the Sea for NAIDOC Week 2022. Rita Watson is a proud Pitjanjatura minyma (woman) from Warburton, a remote community in Western Australia. The daughter of renowned Irrunytju artist Tjuruparu Watson, creativity flows deep through Rita’s veins. A celebrated artist in Ninuku Arts, an art collective based in the far northwest corner of South Australia, Rita is dedicated to her craft. Her work moves through iconographic compositions on canvas, to intricate detailing that can be found on her glass work. Rita works in the style of Milpatjunanyi, which is an indigenous tradition of drawing in the sand in a visually symbolic language, that holds a profound importance in Anangu culture. It is a practice that forges tangible connections to story, law and culture, whether drawn in the sand, upon the body or in this instance - canvas. She uses an interesting palette and granular texture, with bold linear graphics. “Rita’s work displays her wonderful ability to capture the stories of country and those of her ancestors in a unique naïve style with a bold graphic visual language that is both contemporary, yet remains deeply rooted in cultural tradition. We are extremely proud to be bringing this collection of works from the desert to the sea during Naidoc week." - Creative Director of Tigmi, Danielle McEwan. Tigmi will be donating 10% of sales from this exhibition to local indigenous newspaper Koori Mail – an 100% aboriginal owned and 100% self-funded newspaper that is widely recognised as ‘the voice of Indigenous Australia.’ During the 2022 floods, and to this day, the Koori Mail has supported the local Northern Rivers community by helping rescue, feed, house & clothe those affected, from their headquarters in Lismore – despite also losing their offices due to the floods. This contribution will go towards rebuilding the home of Australia’s only independent Indigenous newspaper. _ Rita Watson exhibits at Tigmi’s Byron Bay studio from Sunday 3 July - August.