Puna Yanima was born in the bush close to De Rose Hill Station in the far north of South Australia. Her father was Norman Yanima from Piltati, near Nyapari, and her mother was Lucy Yanima from Iwantja. Puna spent her first years living off the land and traveling between communities with her parents and siblings. She grew up speaking Yankunytjatjara, and eventually moved to Iwantja as a young girl. Once Puna started a family on her own, she moved to Mimili with her partner and four children.
Puna continues to be one of the senior cultural leaders of Mimili Community. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of inma (ceremonial song and dance) and culture with the next generation, and is a vocal advocate for the maintenance of Yankunytjatjara language. Puna was introduced to the storylines of Antara as a young woman, and has since continued to integrate them into her life, sharing her knowledge with family and visitors alike.
Puna started connecting her deep knowledge of country with the practice of painting as soon as Mimili Maku Arts was founded. As one of the community leaders, she was instrumental in developing and growing the art centre in its early stages. Today, Puna is best known for her inky, fluid and free artworks. Her paintings radiate a sense of ease and joyfulness, both character traits she is much-loved for in Mimili.
Ngayulu kungka ukara Mimiliku yanu, ngayulu. Ngayulu Mimili nyinara art centre-ngka waarkaringu, ngura wiru. Ngayulu art centre yankupai waarkaku every day. Ngayulu Antara tjukurpa walkatjunkupai, ngura maku. Ngayulu wakalpai, maku tjuta, tjukula tjuta munu apu pulka Antara-la. Ngayuku tjukurpa nyangatja. Paintangka munu kapingka tjunanyi. Art centrengka tjutangku Antara tjukurpa paint-amilapai, tjukurpa wiru, tjukurpa nyangatja nintintjaku, malatja malatja tjuta.
I moved to Mimili when I was a young woman. I have been working at the art centre here for many years now, it’s a beautiful place and I go there every day. I paint the Antara storyline, the landscape we live within, home to the important witchetty grub ceremony. In my paintings you can see the witchetty grubs, the paths they travel, the big rocks and the rockholes that are part of this ceremony. I have been painting the Antara story for many years now. I like to use a lot of water and inks on my paintings. This is my way. There are many others in the art centre who paint this beautiful storyline of Antara, each in their own way. There is so much inspiration in the art centre and so much to teach to the future generations.
Selected Artworks
