Sally M. Nangala Mulda and Marlene Rubuntja

Sally M. Nangala Mulda, (Arrernte/Southern Luritja people), and Marlene Rubuntja, (Arrernte/Western Arrarnta people), were the best of friends, growing up in Amoonguna settlement just north of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in the 1960’s. They spent day and night together, waking up to birdsong, going to school, getting up to mischief, they had a lot of fun. But their happy times were punctuated by the regular beating of drums reminding them of the institutionalised reforms that colonisation had brought to their community. Amoonguna settlement was established as a government reserve in 1963. First Nations people were forced to live under colonialist authority, conforming to policies that would inevitably worsen an already problematic situation. Government control and violence were realities that Sally and Marlene experienced throughout their lives and these truths are told through their work.

‘C’mon, Sally. Time for school.’

‘So we can march all day and line up for everything,’ moaned Sally.

Together, the girls walked to school and at the first sound of their teacher’s drum, they did have to march. They wore out their little legs marching around their school.

As the two girls grew, despite their bond, life took them different directions. Sally went south, closer to Mparntwe with her family, and Marlene went further north. The women each had their challenges and misfortunes to work through, and they both found peace in artistic practices. Sally is now an acclaimed painter, making pictures of her childhood in the town camp. In 2009, Marlene joined Yarrenyty Arltere Art Centre, in Mparntwe, and developed her skills in soft sculpture, making beautiful birds, and figures made from felted wool and brightly coloured yarn.

One day Marlene visited Tangentyere Art Centre, also in Mparntwe, and spotted a woman making a painting of two girls on mats beside a campfire. Straightaway she recognised Sally. Like no time had passed, Sally and Marlene were together again! They began reminiscing about their childhood and making up for lost time.

Through their artistic practices Sally and Marlene reflect on the impacts of political intervention on their lives and their communities. However, they both tend to focus on joyful moments, like coming to work in the art centres, friendship, and love.

Arrkutja Tharra, Kungka Kutjara, Two Girls is a collaboration between both artists and animated by Ludo Studio in a commission by ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and Artbank. This commission supports Australian artists and filmmakers to create new and experimental work. Two Girls is the third and final outcome of the Artbank and ACMI commission.

Featuring vibrant paintings by Sally along with Marlene’s soft sculptures, the artists worked together to tell their story of enduring friendship. Younger family members have narrated the story for the two artists. Their differing personalities shine and are highlighted in the final scene of the film when they see their work projected on the sails of the Sydney Opera House as part of the Badu Gili: Wonder Women exhibition.

‘There we are, Sally,’ said Marlene. ‘Part of that Wonder Women exhibition.’

‘I’m not a wonder woman,’ said Sally.

‘I am!’ said Marlene.

‘We are Town Camp artists,’ said Sally. ‘Look there. Our name is written in the sky.’

Sally M. Mulda and Marlene Rubuntja with Courtney Collins.

Read more about the Artbank + ACMI commission, and past recipients here. *Note that some previous commissions contain mature themes.

Did you know

The title of the work Kungka Kutjara, Arrkutja Tharra, Two Girls reflects both artists' languages, Kungka Kutjara is Arrernte and Arrkutja Tharra is Luritja, both meaning two girls.

Badu Gili: Wonder Women

A collaboration between the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Sydney Opera House, Badu Gili: Wonder Women brings together the work of six female First Nations artists in a larger-than-life animation on the sails of the Opera House. Sally M. Nangala Mulda and Marlene Rubuntja are both featured in the exhibition.

Watch the Badu Gili: Wonder Women film and curator, Coby Edgar’s, introduction then discuss the connections you can make between each of the artist’s work.

• Are the artists the Wonder Women, or are there other Wonder Women featured in the work?
• What makes them Wonder Women?
• Who are the Wonder Women in your life, and why?
• Contributing artist, Kaylene Whiskey, from Iwantja Arts, has produced many works of art centred around Wonder Women. See our online resource here to dive deeper into Whiskey’s whimsical world.