Turalayinthi Yarta.: N.Smith Gallery

– Eleanor Scicchitano, Independent Curator

Turalayinthi Yarta is a Kaurna Miyurna phrase 'to see yourself in the landscape'. In a two-year period, James travelled over 300 km of the southern part of the Hans Heysen trail that runs parallel along the Kaurna Yarta nation boundary line in the Mount Lofty ranges. This documentation of Kauma Country and the surrounding Nunga region allowed James to explore his connection with Kaurna yarta (Kaurna land) through learning, researching, documenting and traveling on country.

Painting over the European medium of photography with ochre, pipeclay and charcoal with Nunga designs, James represents Nunga people's intellectual, spiritual and physical connection with yarta (Country). The ochre and charcoal on the photographs is a physical presentation of the landscape on the photographs. 'My Nunga Kaurna family has been in the region of South Australia for 65,000-80,000 years and has a rich cultural connection to this land. It is a great honour for me as a Kaurna person to learn, practice and walk in my ancestors' footsteps. This series acknowledges and pays respect to Nunga people and their rich cultural, spiritual and physical connection to this landscape of South Australia.'

Turalayinthi Yarta represents James' connection to the Kaurna Yarta region of South Australia. Combining the Western medium of photography and traditional Nunga designs, James continues Indigenous culture.