Malya Teamay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malya Teamay
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| Born | 1947 (age 77–78) Curtin Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | • Artist at Walkatjara Art Uluṟu • Board member of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Organization | Maruku Arts |
| Style | Western Desert art |
| Children | Arnold Teamay (born 1971) |
Malya Teamay is an important Aboriginal Australian artist. He is also a leader who helps manage Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. As an artist, Malya works at Walkatjara Art Uluṟu. This art center is inside the national park's cultural center. His amazing paintings can be seen in big galleries. These include the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Victoria.
Malya Teamay's Early Life
Malya Teamay was born in 1947. His birthplace was Curtin Springs, a large cattle farm. This farm is located in the southwest of the Northern Territory. Malya's family belongs to the Pitjantjatjara people.
He grew up in several places. These included Uluṟu, Areyonga, and Ernabella. For much of his early life, Malya worked as a stockman. A stockman is someone who looks after cattle.
Becoming an Artist
In the mid-1980s, Malya Teamay moved to Muṯitjulu. This community was newly formed. Soon after moving, he started painting. He began painting to share the history of his people.
His very first painting showed a serious problem. It was about the challenges faced by young people in his community. He has created many different versions of this painting since then.
What Malya Teamay Paints
Like many artists from his region, Malya paints Tjukurpa. These are special stories about his spiritual ancestors. The stories tell about their journeys across the land during the Dreamtime.
Malya's paintings often show the Seven Sisters. He also paints about the Liru and Kuniya Dreamings. These are important ancestral stories. His artwork called Tjukurpa of Uluṟu is even on the park's admission tickets. It shows the spiritual laws connected to Uluṟu.
He also paints about other topics. These include stories from the Australian gold rush. He also paints about social issues in his community. Malya also shows the effects of harmful habits on the environment.
Community Leadership
Malya is a very active member of the Aboriginal community. He has traveled all over Australia. He speaks about issues important to the Anangu people.
He has also been the chairman of the Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal Corporation. This group helps create jobs and education. It also supports economic chances for Aboriginal people. This work is done in the southwestern Northern Territory.
