: Friday 22th May, 2023
Japingka Aboriginal Art presents Sonya Edney's fourth solo exhibition:
Yingarrda Waterholes and Wildflowers
Fremantle, Western Australia – Japingka Aboriginal Art is proud to announce the unveiling of Sonya Edney's fourth solo exhibition: Yingarrda Waterholes and Wildflowers. This stunning exhibition explores the life-giving powers of the waterways surrounding the Gascoyne River, which defines the vegetation and wildlife of Western Australia's mid-west region.
In Sonya Edney's work, the waterholes and creeks are a constant source of inspiration that brings forth the wildflowers surrounding the river's banks and floodways. The Gascoyne River is fed by 36 tributaries, which energise the surrounding landscape when the river flows for one-third of the year.
This exhibition is also an opportunity to view Sonya Edney's iconic and commemorative painting of the total solar eclipse which took place at Exmouth, WA, on the 20th of April 2023. Her painting entitled, [insert name], celebrates this rare event and the unique perspective Sonya gained by witnessing the total eclipse herself. As part of the Dark Sky Festival in Exmouth surrounding the event, the artist's work was also featured in an impressive and moving drone light show that told the story of Jirndarl, the woman/sun, and Willarda, the man/moon.
As a renowned painter of the Gascoyne region, Sonya Edney is well-known for her representations of the night skies, the Seven Sisters Story and the image of Yalibirri, the Emu in the Sky. Her impressive artworks have found places in distant homes around the world including with Grey's Anatomy and Emily in Paris star, Kate Walsh, who attended a previous exhibition at Japingka Gallery and commissioned one of Sonya's Seven Sisters pieces. Since 2020, two of the artist's works have been part of the Origins Exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, while her paintings are also showcased in the Geraldton Regional Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute of Western Australia.
Sonya, a largely self-taught Yingarrda (Ingarrda) artist, began painting at her home in the Burringurrah community, located between Carnarvon and Meekatharra, where she grew up and attended the School of the Air. She attributes her artistic talents to her family and home. Sonya says, "When I travel and see different country and scenery, it makes me think of my own country. It takes me back home where my inspiration began in the bush with my family." About her work, she adds, "Once I have the colours sorted in my mind, the rest just follows. It takes time to complete the background, but then I wait, sometimes overnight, for the rest of the painting to come to me, sometimes in a dream. It's a continuous and compelling process."
As you explore this striking new exhibition, you'll discover the beauty and wonder of the Gascoyne region through Sonya Edney's eyes. From the striking colours and textures of her paintings to the stories and cultural traditions that inspired them, you'll gain a newfound appreciation for this unique and special part of the world. We invite you to
