We are extremely proud to unveil a powerful new series of window decals at Home Collective, created by Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan of Mukulri Creative. Emrhan’s artwork honours this year’s theme, Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy, and is a visual reminder of the deep connections between culture, community, and storytelling across generations.
The Story behind the artwork from
I created these artwork designs for Home Collective to help mark 50 years of NAIDOC and to celebrate this year’s theme: Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy. Although this piece has been designed using a lot of my Western Desert symbols, it is all about community and that strong connection between our cultural leaders and young people, showing how knowledge, culture and leadership are shared and passed down through generations.
The design includes some of my traditional iconographies of the Western Desert and uses bold, expressive elements that are grounded in story and Country. I wanted it to stand out, feel real, and honour both the strength of our past and the vision of where we’re going.
The hero piece of the design are the ‘U’ shapes surrounding the circles that represent people coming together, sitting around a meeting spot. They are sharing their message of strength, vision and legacy with the next generation and communities that are extended out from the centre. It shows the journey lines of the paths that these messages have travelled and continue to travel.
One of the key elements is the tjurrka (wild fig), a bush tucker vine, and learning when and where to collect it, but it’s more than just a food source. For me, it represents sharing, growth, and how the knowledge is passed down to our young ones to continue the work laid down by those before them. There’s real strength in that, and I wanted that message to come through in this piece.
Emrhan’s Bio
I am a Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha man, creative artist, cultural consultant, and owner of Mukulri Creative.
My art journey is a practice inspired by country, family connections, and experiences taught to me by family members as a young boy. This is a cultural practice that remains strong. Culture and knowledge are important to me. I share with and educate both non-Aboriginal people and Aboriginal people from other parts of the country.
I help to address cultural appropriations within Aboriginal Cultural Intellectual Property by educating others on the importance of respecting one’s cultural connections through symbols and iconographies. I also work with businesses to develop cultural understanding by developing a statement of commitment or intent and cultural strengthening plans.
My paintings are what connects me, my country and culture through traditional stories passed down from my family, particularly my mum and grandmother who I got to watch paint as a young child. They are the source of my inspiration and painting my stories connect me to my country throughout the Western Desert region.
I work mostly with acrylic paints and have completed works on canvas, small scale wall petitions and murals. I find that painting my traditional stories helps to connect me to my culture as I am currently living off country, and it has been a great therapy resource that keeps me busy.
I have strong connections to my culture and a lot of my inspiration comes from my family and community leaders.
See More from Mukulri Creative here.
