Pauline Ryan Kilngarri Nanaku was born on Old Wave Hill Station (Jinparrak). From an early age, Pauline worked at Wave Hill and Cattle Creek Stations helping her mother in the milker yard and later as a domestic servant in the dining room and men’s quarters, washing and ironing.
Pauline first started painting and sewing at Daguragu at Art and Craft Centre. She learned her Dreaming stories from the old people during ceremony. Pauline is a founding director of the Karungkarni Art and Culture Aboriginal Corporation which operates the art centre in Kalkarindji. Pauline has been employed by the Kalkaringi School as a cook and as a cleaner for at Kalkarindji Clinic. Doing women’s business, wajarra (dance) and culture is a important part of Pauline’s life.
In 1966, Vincent Lingiari initiated a workers’ strike to protest against the poor conditions of the employment of Aboriginal people, and ultimately recover control of their traditional land. The Gurindji campaign, known as the Wave Hill Walk Off, went on for nine years and resulted in the first successful land claim by an Aboriginal group, which in turn generated further energy for the broader land rights movement. Following the lead of the Lingiari, Pauline and her husband walked off Wave Hill Station to Kalkarindji / Daguragu. They have lived in Kalkarindji since that time.
Exhibitions
Pokokai, Nambour Qld 2011
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2011-2024
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Online 2020-2024
Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture Art Exhibition at Arthouse Café, Charles Darwin University, NT 2016-2024
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre, Katherine, NT 2021
Songlines Art Gallery, The Dreaming Festival, Woodford, Qld 2012
Jayingu exhibition of Gurindji art, Little Rocket, Brunswick, Victoria, 2014
Freedom Day Festival Art Exhibition, Karungkarni Art, Kalkaringi, NT 2011-2024
Tarnanthi Art Fair, Adelaide SA 2021-2024
Still In My Mind: Gurindji Location, Experience and Visuality curated by Brenda L Croft
This exhibition touring nationally from 2017 until 2023 including such venues as:
UNSW Sydney NSW, UQAM Brisbane Qld, Godinymayin Culture Centre Katherine NT, Charles Darwin University Art Gallery Darwin NT, Araluen Alice Springs NT, Geraldton Art Gallery WA, Blue Mountains Regional Gallery NSW, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Qld, South Australian Museum Adelaide SA, Melbourne National Gallery Victoria, Drill Hall ANU Canberra ACT