At the start of July, we had some utterly stunning artworks installed at our Home Collective locations in Boorloo (Perth) and Goomburrup (Bunbury) to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
Created by Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan, a Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha man, creative artist and cultural consultant, the artworks are a celebration of 2025 NAIDOC theme ‘Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy’.
With over 21,000 cars passing our buildings each day (plus pedestrians), we wanted something bold and expressive that visually celebrated the incalculable and continuing contributions of First Nations people, and Tjapanangka nailed it.
The story behind the artwork
Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan
“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 is 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.”
About Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan
Tjapanangka is a Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha man, creative artist, cultural consultant, and owner of Mukulri Creative.
His art journey is a practice inspired by country, family connections, and experiences taught to him by family members as a young boy. This is a cultural practice that remains strong. Culture and knowledge are important to him. He shares with and educates both non-Aboriginal people and Aboriginal people from other parts of the country.
Tjapanangka helps 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. He also works with businesses to develop cultural understanding by developing a statement of commitment or intent and cultural strengthening plans.
His paintings are what connects Tjapanangka , his country and culture through traditional stories passed down from his family, particularly his mum and grandmother who he got to watch paint as a young child. They are the source of Tjapanangka’s inspiration and painting his stories connects him to his country throughout the Western Desert region.
Working mostly with acrylic paints, Tjapanangka has completed works on canvas, small scale wall petitions and murals. He find that painting his traditional stories helps to connect himself to his culture as he’s currently living off country, and it has been a great therapy resource that keeps him busy.
Tjapanangka has strong connections to his culture and a lot of his inspiration comes from family and community leaders.
We’d love for you to come see Tjapanangka’s work in person at our homes in Boorloo (301 Vincent Street, Leederville) and Goomburrup (42 Strickland Street, Bunbury)
Throughout July, we’ll offer multiple initiatives for our employees to further build cultural competency and connect them to the diverse history, stories and knowledge of our communities.
