Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Year 8 Visual Art

 • We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Acknowledgmen Islander Elders past, present and future. We
acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures
t of Country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this
land.
Video Introduction to the
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
• Comprehension Questions for the FIRST video
(found on SEQTA) – Good Spender: Tjanpi Desert
Weavers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGRvn2fTPlw
• What is Tjanpi?
• How many women are involved in the group?
• What does the term ‘out into country’ mean?
• How long has the group been going for?
Tjanpi Desert Weavers Artist:
Tjunkaya Tapaya
• Comprehension Questions for the SECOND video
(found on SEQTA) – Obsessed: Tjunkaya Tapaya
https://vimeo.com/254596745
• What is Tjunkaya Tapaya inspired by?
• What animals did Tjunkaya make to surround her
sculpture of the women?
• What materials does she predominately use?
 Tjunkaya Tapaya
• Tjunkaya is a member of the Pitjantjatjara people.
• She was born in the desert in the far northwest of
South Australia near Attila (Mount Connor). 
• Tjunkaya holds senior positions in her community
and is a keeper of culture and stories.
• It is these stories and experiences that she weaves
into her work, an important element being to pass
on culture and skills to new generations of makers.
 Individual Research and
write into your folios:
QUESTIONS FOUND ON SEQTA
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
• Who makes the work?
• What do they make?
• What clues in the artwork tell you where it was made, who
made it and why?
• How does the Tjanpi Desert Weavers’ work of art connect
with their traditional lands and stories?

• Links to Resources to assist your research is on SEQTA

Tjanpi Desert Weaver materials:
• Dried tjanpi is used in combination with other materials such as colour
yarn and string, wire, animal fur beads and seeds. Found objects are
often incorporated into their work.
 Brainstorm as a
class:
• If we were to create a sculpture, what
materials and found objects could we
include (from home and from school) that
would give potential viewers of our artworks
clues about who we are, and where we are
from?

• Write down this brainstorm into your folio.

Highlight or underline the ideas that you
like.