The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 48 No 3 November 2009

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For traditional people at Ernabella, the invention of
walka gave artists control over how they positioned
themselves. It provided a balance between what culturi
material was reserved and what was revealed within th
visual art.
Nyukana was a walka pioneer and it helped her find
a place, with an audience for her work, in a new and
expanding world of appreciation.
In 1998 a group of Ernabella artists that included
Nyukana were at JamFadory embarking on a new
venture - decorating ceramics. Using the processes and
continuous improvisation of walka, Nyukana pa inted h
ceramics with colourful underglaze decoration.
Inventive use of technique outside of orthodoxy has
always fascinated Nyukana and it was not long before
she was also applying batik approaches to ceram ics,
creating effeds that combined lost wax, slip tra iling,
brushwork and resist effeds.
Along with several other artists, Nyukana has been
recently working at a pottery studio in Alice Springs,
where she is now based.
"For more information on Nyukana and walka
see the exhibition catalogue
Nyukana (Daisy) Baker - Retrospective
by Dr Diana Young.
This exhibition was presented at JamFactory
in partnership with the Australian National
University w ith funding assistance from the
VAB of the Australia Council in August 2009.
Dr Young is Director of the University of
Queensland's Anthropology Museum and is
currently engaged w ith Ernabella artists in
compiling the history of Ernabella Arts.
above right: Platter, 1998. terracotta underglaze
decoration, diam.39cm; private collection, photo: courtesy
JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design
As if cut from a length of painted and dyed fabric
Nyukana's swirling and concentric walka effortlessly covers
the surface of this plate made as part of the partnership
between Ernabella and the ceramic studio of JamFactory.
right: Untitled, large jar, 2004, lost wax batik decoration
on terracotta. h.64cm, w.26cm; private collection, photo:
courtesy Jamfadory Contemporary Cratt and Design.
In an innovative step. Nyukana intuitively made the
connection between her past experiences in batik, to see
the potential for a new way to approach decoration in her
ceramics.
THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER 2009
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