A passion for football and a love of country have come together in the artwork of Sydney Swans fan Henry Farmer.
Henry Farmer is a Ngaanyatjarra man and lives in the remote community of Kaltukatjara in the Northern Territory.
A director, artist and art worker at the community owned and run art centres of Tjarlirli Art and Kaltukatjara Art, the avid Sydney Swans fan can be recognised instantly by his Swans cap and the regular renditions of “Cheer, cheer” that ring out across the centre every time someone calls his phone.
Farmer paints important Tjukurrpa (stories) from his grandparents' country.
Over the past few months, as Australia has been grappling with the impacts of coronavirus and Swans fans have been waiting for footy to return, Farmer has been working on a painting depicting his family's country and demonstrating his love of the Sydney Swans.
The artwork is about an important Tjukurrpa of Henry's tjamu-ku ngurra (grandfather's country).
The Ngaanyatjarra people call the site “Kuru Yurltu” meaning “Hollow Eye”. Farmer tells this story by painting the country surrounding the site, depicting the eyes of Kuru Yurltu and the sand dunes leading into it.
Henry Farmer is very proud to share his work with the Sydney Swans community. You can view more of his work on Instagram www.instagram.com/tjarlirliart
