Materials: Metal and community-made metal panels.
About the Art
The Yeperenye Sculpture is a large public artwork in Alice Springs (Mparntwe) that celebrates the Yeperenye (Caterpillar), one of the most significant ancestral beings in Arrernte culture. The sculpture was created following extensive consultation with Traditional Owners, who agreed it was an important opportunity to honour the Yeperenye story and create a lasting cultural landmark for both visitors and locals.
In Arrernte tradition, the Yeperenye Caterpillar is a major creative ancestor connected to the formation of the landscape around Mparntwe. The sculpture recognises the journeys, stories and cultural significance of the Yeperenye and other caterpillar ancestors, whose travels and interactions are preserved through oral traditions and sacred sites across Central Australia.
About the Artist
The sculpture was created by Dan Murphy, an Alice Springs-based metal sculptor known for his large-scale artworks inspired by Australian wildlife. Murphy worked closely with local Aboriginal participants and community members to design and build the sculpture.
The finished artwork is approximately 18 metres long and 3 metres high. Its interior is decorated with around 100 community-created metal panels, produced through workshops involving Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Murphy also collaborated with students from the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT), providing valuable skills development and cultural learning opportunities throughout the project.
About the Project
The Yeperenye Sculpture was conceived as a community public art project, bringing together arts, cultural, educational, Aboriginal and tourism organisations. The project encouraged collaboration between artists, students, community members and Traditional Owners, creating a shared sense of ownership and pride.
Participants included students from Yeperenye Primary School and the Centre for Appropriate Technology’s ATWork program, who contributed to the construction and decorative elements of the sculpture. Beyond creating a public artwork, the project aimed to support community engagement, skills development and cultural education.
The project was funded through a $54,000 donation from the Grand Circle Foundation, making it the organisation’s first supported project in Australia. Since its completion in 2001, the sculpture has stood as a symbol of Arrernte culture, community collaboration and the enduring significance of the Yeperenye story.
For more information about the artwork, click the link below:
Araluen Arts Centre - The Yeperenye Sculpture
📷Image / Photo Source: ASTC Photo Archives
📍Araluen Arts Centre - 61 Larapinta Dr