Biennale of Sydney

donate
About Us
Get Involved
What’s Happening
Archive
About UsDonateNewsContactSubscribeLegal & PrivacyAccessibility Statement
instagram facebook tiktok youtube email

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country, in particular the Gadigal people on whose land the Biennale of Sydney is located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture and pay our respect to Elders, past and present.

First Nations people are respectfully advised that this site includes works, names and images of deceased people. This includes cultural practices and artistic intellectual property of a sensitive nature.

Foreground, left to right: Ngurrara Artists, Ngurrara Canvas II, 1997. Presentation at the 25th Biennale of Sydney was made possible with generous support from the Oranges & Sardines Foundation. Courtesy of the artists and the Ngurrara Canvas Management Group (NCMG) © Ngurrara Artists. Yaritji Young, Tjala Tjukurpa III, 2025; Tjala Tjukurpa II, 2025; Tjala Tjukurpa IV, 2025. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the South Australian Government through CreateSA. Courtesy of the artist and Tjala Arts © Yaritji Young. Installation view, 25th Biennale of Sydney, Rememory, 2026, Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins.

Yaritji Young, Tjala Tjukurpa I, 2025; Tjala Tjukurpa, 2026. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the South Australian Government through CreateSA. Courtesy of the artist and Tjala Arts © Yaritji Young. Installation view, 25th Biennale of Sydney, Rememory, 2026, Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins.

Yaritji Young
Born in 1956, near Pukatja/Ernabella, Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Australia
Lives and works in Amata, APY Lands Pitjantjatjara, Southern Desert region 

Tjala Tjukurpa I–IV 2025
synthetic polymer paint on linen 

Tjala Tjukurpa 2026
synthetic polymer paint on wall
Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the South Australian Government through CreateSA
Courtesy of the artist and Tjala Arts 

Yaritji Young is a senior law woman and respected artist from the Amata community on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the far north-west of South Australia. A traditional owner of the tjala tjukurpa (honey ant story) near Amata, Young makes paintings that scurry with honey ants in a mass of shifting movement and colour. The vibrant use of colour and bold mark-making in these works capture the attention of the observer as the tjala travel across the canvas – much as they would on Country. 

Like the honey ant, each individual stroke works in tandem with their fellow constituents to form a cohesive living story. Young traces the honey ant’s journey, twisting through rock and cave, across her Country.