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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Two cheeky girls, 2018

by Shirley Purdie

Two cheeky girls, 2018

“This story was when I was a little girl with my mate. We were going back to Mabel Downs for getting some beef – from where they used to fence at Six Mile Bore. We was going back to get some meat, and my uncle was driving his truck. Me and Mary and the old man’s dog was sitting on the back of the truck, and we wanted to go toilet but we didn’t knock to him because we were cheeky, so we bin throw that dog off the truck to show him, and he saw us on the side mirror. He stopped the truck and tell us to walk from there – he left us there to walk home. It was a far walk, good enough long distance. We cried all the way.”

Shirley Purdie
(More information, View all 37 images)

Jugurrul (bush orange tree)
Barregll (nutwood tree)
Nyawurru (emu)
Nangala (the turtle)

Related information

Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey

So Fine

Contemporary women artists make Australian history

Previous exhibition, 2018

This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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