Khatija Possum

Khatija Possum

For Khatija Possum, art is a family legacy. As the granddaughter of the renowned Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Khatija has charted her own course in the art world. Born in 1989 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, she draws significant inspiration from the works of her grandfather and her mother, Michelle Possum Nungurrayi. At the age of nine, when her mother resumed painting, Khatija discovered her passion for the craft. By watching and assisting her mother, she honed her skills, emphasizing the role of art in preserving cultural traditions and narratives as they are passed down through generations.

Now a mother herself, Khatija is devoted to preserving her cultural heritage. She resides in Adelaide with her partner John and their three children.

Seven Sisters

In this captivating depiction by artist Khatija Possum, the Dreamtime legend of the Seven Sisters is vividly brought to life.

In the Dreamtime, a group of seven Napaltjarri sisters were pursued by a man from the Jakamarra kinship named Jilbi. He resided in a cave at irlkirdi, where he practiced love magic. By cutting his lengthy hair and intricately weaving it on a wooden spindle, he performed enchanting songs and dances, audible from great distances. These performances often lured young women to his cave to join him, and Jakamarra men would take great pride in their magical achievements, frequently boasting about their allure.

However, the seven sisters were determined to escape Jilbi's advances. They fled across the vast desert, eventually growing weary and hungry. At Uluru, they paused to search for honey ants. When Jilbi neared, they moved to a place called Kurlunyalimpa and transformed themselves into seven fires.

With the assistance of spirits at Uluru, the sisters ascended into the sky, becoming a group of stars. Today, they are visible as the constellation Pleiades in the Taurus star cluster. Jilbi, transformed into the Morning Star in Orion’s belt, eternally pursues them across the night sky.