Imuna Kenta
Anangu Elder
Imuna Kenta was born in 1948 at Pipalyatjara. As a child she moved east to Ernabella, where she attended the mission school and then worked in the craftroom. She travelled with the Ernabella Choir several times in the 1960s and 1970s to Adelaide and Alice Springs, and again in 2004. Imuna has spent much of her adult life caring for a large family and a disabled daughter, living at the homelands Turkey Bore and Balfours Well.
Imuna has been weaving since 2005, and quickly moved from making small baskets to quirky sculptural pieces. Usually depicting animals which surround her home community of Pukatja, such as kangaroos, goannas, camels and dogs, her work is always strong, proud and full of character. Imuna is a lead artist in her home community and a key weaver, giving guidance and inspiration to others with her courage to experiment in her arts practise.
Ref: Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Tjanpi represents over 400 artists from 26 remote communities. These artists range from the women who first started making baskets in 1995 to younger generations who are taking up weaving today. Making baskets and sculptures from tjanpi (grass) is a fundamental part of Central and Western desert culture for these women.
Imuna’s work was shown at the 11th International Naif Art fair in Katowice Poland in 2018
Bush Medicine Leaves
Imuna Kenta, Ellie Scutchings, Margaret Dagg and Tjimpuna Dunn with their SA Governor’s multicultural award 2016
reference: click here