Corban Clause Williams is a First Nations artist, a proud Martu, Manyjilyjarra man, currently residing on Martu Country (Western Australia).
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Introduction
Corban Clause Williams is a young artist working with Martumili Artists in Newman, Western Australia. Born and raised in Newman, Corban is inspired by time spent on Country, collecting bush tucker, hunting, and storytelling around the waru (fire). Corban has a deep respect for his Martu family and Elders and has spent many years painting alongside senior artists in his community. In his most recent art-making, Corban showcases a practice informed by tradition yet imbued with his own unique contemporary vision of Country.
“I was born in Newman hospital. Mum, Dad, Nanna, and Pop lived in Jigalong before, but they moved into town before I was born. I’m one of seven children. I grew up in Newman - this is my home. I like to travel, but I worry about home. When I was younger, I went to Newman Primary (Yellow) School and Newman Senior High School.
My Nanna and Pop used to take us out hunting for bush tucker. I’d help them make a fire and tea. Pop and I would go out to the swamp area between Newman and Kumarina. Nan, Pop, Mum, and Dad would tell funny stories about our family and make me laugh.
I work at Martumili, helping to sell the paintings and get the canvas ready. I come to Martumili to paint about my Country, where my grandfather walked around and collected food and visited the same rockholes I do. I paint to keep my culture and stories and share them with others.”
"I come to Martumili to paint about my Country, where my grandfather walked around and collected food and visited the same rockholes I do. I paint to keep my culture and stories and share them with others."
Work with Corban
Custom art commissions are available. Collaborating with you to conceive a unique composition, size and colour palette, Corban is dedicated to creating an artwork that resonates with your business or cause.
For more information contact Life Apparel and we will get you in touch with Corban.
Story: Kaalpa is my two grandfathers' ngurra (home). My two grandfathers, they were pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) in Kaalpa, where they walked around hunting bush tuckers, getting meat for the family.
I went there for the first time in 2018 on a Martumili trip to Wantlili Claypan. The KJ (Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa) rangers were going to visit Kaalpa and asked "we going Kaalpa, you wanna come? "The oldies said "go see your grandfather's Country"-they showed me a well (Well 23 on the Canning Stock Route). It's got kapi (water) there, a well, jurnu (soak) and tuwa (sandhills). When we been in Kaalpa they [elders] said "this is your Country, this is your home. This one here is yours and your little sister's [Tamisha Williams] home, this is your two's grandfather's Country".
I went hunting there, got a parnajalpa (sand goanna). We were looking for bilbys - we couldn't find any. We got minyarra (bush onion) there too. When I went there, I was pukurlpa (happy). It made you open up your spirit, feels like home. When I was little, I first came to Martumili, I saw people painting and Gabe (Gabrielle Sullivan, previous manager at Martumili Artists) got me a small canvas to try. One day when I was at Fortescue festival I saw all the oldies there and their paintings, I was looking around, looking around and seeing what I liked, this and that, this and that, and I was thinking- I want to be a painter when I grow up.
At school in Newman and in Punmu I liked to paint. I painted a lot with my nana Jakayu [Biljabu] and little bit I got her style of painting, into my painting. First, when you have a brush in your hand it's like I see it in my mind, the sandhills, waterholes. I picture it in my head and I am back there.
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This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
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Acknowledgement Of Country
Life Apparel celebrates and acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging for their generosity and custodianship of Country throughout Australia.
We recognise and honour the ongoing connection and deep spiritual relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to this Country, and acknowledge the unique role they play in caring for and protecting it for future generations. As an Australian-led boutique label and proud allies, we demonstrate our respect for First Nations peoples through our commitments to environmentally sustainable and ethical business practices. We recognise their continuing connection to land and waters, and thank them for protecting our natural resources and ecosystems.
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