About the Artwork

The Mala (rufous hare-wallaby) People were conducting their inma (ceremony) at Uluru.

An invitation came from the west, to join another inma. This was not possible, as the ceremony had begun, and could not be stopped. So the people out west created an evil spirit, a huge devil dog called Kurpany to destroy the Mala inma.

The evil spirit travelled toward the Mala People. Luunpa, the Kingfisher Woman, was the first to spot it. She warned them and they did not listen. The evil spirit shape-shifted into many forms. First, the trees, then rocks, and birds, and ultimately, Kurpany, the devil dog. Luunpa screamed out and told the Mala People that an evil spirit was coming, they finally saw it and they became terrified.

The dog attacked and killed many of the mala men, and in great fear and confusion, the remaining mala fled South from Uluru. Kurpany did not attack the mala women. They are still living here at Uluru today. The Kingfisher Woman still keeps watch, and the dog’s footprints are embedded in Uluru.

“Before, when we had Anangu Tours, I was walking with everyone, talking and telling the Mala Story. We would go on long walks and I would tell them about the Mala People.

Then I had a stroke. I was thinking really hard in hospital that I might paint again and tell my story.

Before, long ago, people were growing up, hearing the stories then teaching the young kids about Mala tjukurpa. Now only some people know this story. I learned it from the old people and I walked a long way with them, learning it.

Now I can’t walk properly, but I still know about it. It’s all in my head. This story is about the old times and new ones.

You can see I’ve painted bush tomatoes, the women collecting it and giving it to the kids, then dancing inma (ceremony). If you have jinna (feet) to walk, you can go to the Mala walk and learn this story. See the grinding stones in the family cave for grinding bush tomatoes. See the Mala People green trees there. They’re special ones.

When I got my stroke, I was remembering all this.” – Christine Brumby, July 2021