Below are some brief biographical details of various
artists from the Yuendumu community who have paintings or prints on
our Web site.
Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels
Born: c. 1934
Dreamings: Warlukurlangu (Fire), Yankirri (Emu), Watiyawarnu
(Acacia Seed), Yumpulykanji (Burrowing Skink), Ngapa (Water).
Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels was born at Warlukurlangu,
her Jukurrpa place, west of Yuendumu, in the bush. She lived
for many years as a traditional nomad, hunting with her family.
She moved with her husband to Mt. Doreen Station, after the
death of her father and then to Yuendumu. With other Warlpiri
people she was trucked to Lajamanu, another government settlement,
but she got homesick for her country and together with her husband
she walked back, more than 600 kms. Dolly first began painting
with the anthropologist Francoise Dussart, who was recording
body paint designs, and is a founding member of Warlukurlangu
Artists.
Betsy Napangardi Lewis
Born: c. 1940
Location: Kunajarryi
Language: Warlpiri
Dreamings: Ngalyipi (Snake vine), Karnta (Women), Jintiparnta
(Edible Fungus), Ngalyipi (Snake Vine), Mina Mina (Dreaming
Site), Kurrkara (Dogwood).
Betsy Lewis was born at Kunajarryi, west of Yuendumu, in the
bush before there were hospitals in the region. She moved to
Mt. Doreen Station with her family when she was quite young,
and was bought up by Paddy Japanangka Lewis. She went to school
in Yuendumu and has lived there ever since, with sojourns in
Nyirripi, a neighbouring community. She started painting in
1999 and has participated in a large number of group exhibitions
and one jointly with Judy Watson.
Darby Jampitjinpa Ross
Born: circa. 1910 at Wakurlpa, near the present site
of Yuendumu community.
Location: Yuendumu, Tanami Desert
Language: Warlpiri
Medium: acrylic paint on canvas and linen
Darby Jampiinpa Ross is one of the founding members of Warlukurlangu
Artists. Painting since 1986, Darby has produced hundreds of
paintings and exhibited worldwide. Recently he has produced
a small series of limited edition prints.
Darby's paintings are held in many major collections of Aboriginal
art, including the National Galleries of Victoria and Australia,
Art Gallery of NSW and the Musee National des Arts Africains
et Oceaniens, Paris. The main Jukurrpa (Dreamings) themes he
paints are: Pamapardu (Flying Ant), Yankirri (Emu), Liwirringki
(Burrowing Skink), Ngapa (Water), Wardilyka (Bush Turkey), Yakajirri
(Bush Raisin) and Watiyawarnu (Acacia Seed).
Paddy Japaljarri Sims
Paddy was a Warlpiri speaker who was born some time
around 1917 at Kunajarrayi (Mt Nicker) west of Yuendumu, in the
Northern Territory. He passed away in 2010.
He was one of the truly outstanding artists
of Yuendumu who has been an influential figure in the development
of art in the region. |
Paddy Sims at work |
He had a distinctive style and painted a number of dreamings (Jukurrpa)
connected with his country: Witi (Ceremonial Pole), Yanjirlypiri (Star),
Yiwarra (Milky Way), Munga (Night), Ngarlkirdi (Witchetty Grub), Liwirringki
(Burrowing Skink), Jungunypa (Marsupial Mouse), Mala (Rufous Hare
Wallaby), Wakulyarri (Rock Wallaby), Warlu (Fire), Wanakiji (Bush
Tomato), Ngalyipi (Snake Vine) and Jurlpu (Bird).
He is well known for his role in painting the Yuendumu Doors in 1983.
Painting consistently on canvas since 1985, he worked on eight
of the large collaborative canvases produced by Warlukurlangu Artists
for museums and private collections. In 1989, Japaljarri was one of
the few Warlpiri men selected to create a major ground painting installation
for the 'Magiciens de la Terre' exhibition in Paris. Paddy
has exhibited in over 80 group exhibitions since 1985, with considerable
success. He is married to Bessie Nakamarra Sims with whom he occasionally
collaborates on larger works. A long term committee member of Warlukurlangu
Artists, Japaljarri was a strong supporter of the centre and encouraged
his children and grandchildren to paint there.
Bessie Nakamarra Sims
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Born: c.1932
Location: Yuendumu, Tanami Desert
Language: Warlpiri
Medium: acrylic paint on canvas and linen
Bessie Sims is one of the strongest supporters of Warlukurlangu
Artists. She has painted since the mid 1980s and has consistently
exhibited nationally and internationally in group shows.
Her husband is Paddy Japaljarri Sims with whom she occasionally
collaborates on larger works. The main dreamings in her
work are Ngarlajiyi (Small Yam), Janganpa (Possum), Pamapardu
(Flying Ant), Karntajarra (Two Women), Yarla (Bush Potato)
and Mukaki (Bush Plum). |
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Paddy Japaljarri Stewart
In 1989, Japaljarri was one of the Warlpiri men selected to create
a significant ground painting installation for the 'Magiciens de
la Terre' exhibition in Paris. He has exhibited nationally and
internationally since 1985 in over 50 group exhibitions. Japaljarri
is among the most consistent members of Warlukurlangu Artists and
currently is the chairman of the committee.
Watson, Maggie Napangardi (formerly Maggie Napangardi Ross)
Born: c.1920 or 1925, died 2004
Location: Yuendumu, Tanami Desert
Language: Warlpiri
Medium: acrylic paint on canvas and linen
Maggie Watson is one of the senior Warlpiri women artists at Yuendumu.
Her interest in rendering traditional women's designs in western materials
was one of the driving forces behind early experiments with canvas
at the community. Her work was included in the first exhibition of
Yuendumu paintings at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs in
October 1985. Since then she has shown in numerous exhibitions of
Warlukurlangu Artists in cities around Australia, as well as in the
'Yuendumu: Paintings out of the Desert', SA Museum exhibition in 1988
and the exhibition "Power of the Land - Masterpieces of Aboriginal
Art" at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1994.
Watson, Judy Napangardi
Born: c. 1925
Location: Yuendumu, Tanami Desert
Language: Warlpiri
Medium: acrylic paint on canvas and linen |
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Judy's country is Mina Mina, an important women's Dreaming site 200
km west of Yuendumu. Most of her works depict Mina Mina or Dreamings
connected to it: Karnta (Women), Kanakurlangu (Digging Stick), Ngalyipi
(Snake Vine), Yunkaranyi (Honey Ant), Jintiparnta (Native Truffle)
and Majardi (Hair String Belt).
She has painted with Warlukurlangu Artists since 1986, is a committee
member of the association, and is one of its most accomplished and
prolific artists. With her sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson, Judy
has developed a popular and distinctive style of contrasting lines
of colour with richly textured surfaces. She has participated in numerous
group exhibitions and her work is held in major collections.
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Biographies
of Yuendumu Artists
