The men Aboriginal artists whose biographies are
given on this page are from the Amata community in far northern
South Australia on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal
Lands. It is approximately 500 km southwest of Alice Springs
in the picturesque Musgrave Ranges.
These Amata artists are all represented by paintings
in our Web site Paintings Gallery.
Hector Burton
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Born c1939 Pipalyatjara way, west of Amata
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Mother's Country Lake Wilson
Father's Country West of Wingellina
Dreaming: Malu - Kangaroo
Hector came into Ernabella out of the desert as a child
with his parents. He worked as a 'ringer' or cattleman
at the Curtain Springs Station which is approximately
130 km north of Amata. As a young man he met Naomi Kantjuri
(also a painter with Minymaku Arts - now Tjala Arts), before moving to
Amata to work on the dams out near Wingellina, fencing,
and building the cattle yards just outside of Amata where
he was the leading hand.
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Hector is an important law and culture Anangu man. He is one of
the few remaining elders that still have strong ties to traditional
law and culture. This is demonstrated by the images he paints
- his Creation story of the Anumara or edible caterpillar.
Hector started painting in October 2003 after the men's painting
room was established to encourage the men of Amata to tell their
stories on canvas. Hector had never painted using canvas and
acrylics before coming to Minymaku Arts. His first exhibition
at Alcaston Gallery in 2004 was an instant sell-out.
Solo Exhibitions: Hector Burton Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
2004
Paddy Kunmanara
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Born 1 July 1946
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Birth Place: Mimili
Dreaming: Tjala - Honey Ants
Paddy's birth name is Paddy Pompey. However he changed
his name to 'Kunmanara' when his grandfather died when
he was very young. Kunmanara is a substitute name used
when the name of a person is the same or sounds like the
name of a person recently deceased. Cultural law prohibits
the speaking of or printing a deceased person's name and
image.
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Paddy came to Amata when he was a young man for business where
he met and married Janet Inyika who is also an artist with Minymaku
Arts. He worked as a stockman, then trained and worked as a
mechanic in Amata. Paddy said he went to Darwin and Adelaide
for 'course training' where he learnt to "fix'em car, change
tyre, paint'em". Since marrying, he has remained in Amata
or 'stopped here' as Paddy says.
Paddy had not painted on canvas before coming to Minymaku Arts.
Since the men's painting room was established in late 2003 he
has joined the other men and continued to paint consistently.
He loves to paint and likes to depict his country and his mother's
country around Mimili. Paddy is a quiet, unassuming and gentle
man with a considerable emerging talent expressed in his painting.
Themes: His mother's country around Mimili
Solo Exhibitions: Kimberley Australian Aboriginal Art, Melbourne
2004
Tiger Palpatja
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Born c1920
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Birthplace: Piltati
Dreaming: Wanampi - Water snake
Tiger grew up and had some schooling in Ernabella (Pukatja)
when it was a mission. His main job was shearing the sheep.
He was known to be a 'top gun shearer' and even went to
Melbourne, probably in the 1960's for the Royal Show.
Sometimes he would do fencing and stockyard work. |
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Tiger started painting at Minymaku Arts (now Tjala Arts) in September 2004.
Before coming to Minymaku Arts, Tiger had never painted in his
life. He was better known for his punu (carved wood objects),
especially his spears.
He is one of the few remaining Amata elders that have strong
ties to traditional culture. This is demonstrated in the images
he paints - his Creation Story of the two husband and wives
and their connection to the Wanampi and the land.
It took almost two years of coaxing by Sara Twigg-Patterson,
the then Arts Coordinator to convince Tiger to start painting.
Sara then had to show Tiger how to use a brush with paint onto
the canvas. Sara said it was "one of those very rare, but
very special moments". Once started, he hasn't stopped!
Themes: His Creation Story of the Wanampi (water snake).
Mick Wikilyiri
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Born c1935
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Birthplace: Rocket Bore, near Mulga Park, NT
Dreaming: Tjala - Honey ant
Mick grew up in Amata. He worked as a 'ringer' or stockman
at the Curtain Springs Station which is approximately
130km north of Amata.
He said he worked everywhere including Kenmore Park (west
of Amata) - when the Anangu Pitjantjatjara / Yankunytjatjara
Lands belonged to the cattle stations. Mick said "when
finished working he 'stopped' back in Amata.
Mick had never painted using canvas and acrylics before
coming to work at Minymaku Arts (now Tjala Arts). |
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