J i m my Do ne g a n
JUNE 18 - JULY 10, 2021 Photo opposite: Jimmy Donegan in Pipalyatjara, 2019. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
Ya nya t j a r i
Cover: Jimmy Donegan with Kulata in Kalka Community, 2019. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
NINUKU Arts and RAF T Artspace present
JI MMY YANYATJA R I DONE G A N On t he Kunmar nara Bore road he ad i ng t ow a r ds Pu ka r a s o u t h e a s t f r o m B l a cks t o n e , we st op at a l ar ge v ul va l i ke roc k hol e f ull o f w a t e r s u r r o u n de d by m u l ga a n d l u s h i nva s i ve buffel gr ass. Pat i ent l y, besi d e the wate r hol e , J i mm y D o n e ga n s e t s m e s t r a i g h t , r e pe a t i n g t h e n a m e – cor r ect i ng my i ne p ti tud e , e mp hasi s i n g t h e r o l l e d R ’s t h e a t r i ca l l y. “ Yu w a t h a t ’s a Kul ypURRRR R R U ” ! Ya ha ha“ , hi s l aug h i s i n f e ct i o u s m i r r o r i n g h i s h a ppy di s po s i t i o n . “Mi nyma po rc up i ne and Wati Ngi ntak a y u w a – w a t i pu l ka ” , h e e x pl a i n s t h e n a r r a t i ve r el at i ng t o t h e p l ac e of the young e c hi dn a wo m a n a n d t h e i l l m a t ch e d l a r ge r Wa t i N g i n t a ka man. “F i ni she d , ngar l tutj ar ra! Ya ha ha “. W i t h t he st or y tol d , as a c ustod i an of co u n t r y M r D w a l ks a r o u n d t h e r o ckh o l e s e t t i n g war u (fi r es) whi c h c rac k l e e x p l osi ve l y, f i r e s t h a t bu r s t a n d s pi t a l l a r o u n d u s , u n t i l h e i s sat i sfi ed t hat al l i s we l l . In t he gr and nar rati ve s of the We ster n D e s e r t s , t h e s t o r y o f t h e t wo w a t e r s n a ke s / War nambi Kutj ar ra T j uk ur rp a re sonates f o r Ya n a n g u wh o r e t e l l a n d m a n i f e s t t h e s t o r y t i me and t i m e agai n. T hi s tj uk ur rp a trave r s e s t h e va s t s pa ce o f t h e We s t e r n D e s e r t s a n d i s embedded throughout the l and sc ap e a t s i g n i f i ca n t pl a ce s . Amongst hi s re p e r toi re of p ai nte d the m e s J i m m y D o n e ga n r e t u r n s t o t h e o r i g i n a n d f i n a l e of t he gr eat tal e wi th many of hi s work s s i m pl y t i t l e d, Pu ka r a . He i s i t s t r u e m a s t e r. Hi s wor ks por t r ay p owe rf ul v i b rant c ol ours - pi n k, l u r i d o r a n ge o f t h e gr ev i l l e a s , v i v i d bl o o d r ed of ver mi l i on and re d oc hre of c e re m o ny u n de r h u ge bl u e s ki e s . Pukar a i s a sac re d we l l south we st o f W i n ge l l i n a , a n d t h e n a m e r e f e r s t o t h e de s e r t heat h-myr t l e wi th p i nk f l owe rs 2 . P uk ar a i s t h e be g i n n i n g a n d cl i m a x o f t h e e pi c l o n g di st ance songl i ne of the two War namb i ( f a t h e r a n d s o n py t h o n m e n ) wh o t r ave l we s t f r o m Pukar a t o somewhe re b eyond W i l una wh e r e t h e yo u n ge r m a n do e s l aw bu s i n e s s .
1 Jimmy D o n ega n p ai nt s p r i m a r i l y f o r N i n uk u A r t s bu t be gan paint ing at Pap ulank ut ja A r t is t s , Blac k s t one w he r e on oc c as ions he p aint s w hile v i s it in g f a mi l y o r at t e n d i n g S or r y c a m p s or bus i n e s s i n B l a c k s t one .. 2 P u k a r a – d es er t he a t h- m y r t l e , D e s e r t t hr y p t om e n e : Thr y p t m e ne m ais onne uve i, a r ound e d s hr ub w it h t iny le ave s and p ink flow e r s found in s a n d h i l l co u n t r y. N e c t a r w i t h d e w i s ga t he r e d f r om t he f l owe r s . ( Ngaanyat jar r a Dic t ionar y) .
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 21-149. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 122cm. 2021
Malu Tjukurpa. 21-178. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 122cm. 2021
Pukara. 21-179. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 122cm. 2021
The younger, d e f or me d snake man wi th o n e eye w a s bu l l i e d a n d r i di cu l e d a s a ch i l d by t he peopl e around P uk ara. T he ye ars o f pe r s e cu t i o n a n d t r a u m a m a n i f e s t a gr u dge t h a t l eads l at er t o the grown up p owe rf ul yo u n g s n a ke - m a n ave n g i n g h i m s e l f , r e t u r n i n g t o ki l l many of t he p e op l e l i v i ng at P uk ara. Ji mmy Done gan was b or n at Yanp an, a r o ckh o l e s o u t h e a s t o f J a m e s o n co m m u n i t y n e a r Li ght ni ng Roc k around 1 9 4 0 . H e grew u p i n co u n t r y wh e r e t h e co m m u n i t i e s o f B l a cks t o n e and Jameson / M antamar u we re l ate r e s t a bl i s h e d. Fr o m a n e a r l y a ge h e w a s i m m e r s e d i n an envi r onme nt ri c h i n the l aby ri nthi c s t o r i e s o f t h e t j u ku r r pa . He m e m o r i s e d t h e l aye r s , pat hways and i nte rse c ti ons whi c h f e a t u r e a ca co ph o ny o f m a g i ca l a n d s u pe r n a t u r a l char act er s - the two c l eve r goanna me n / Wa t i K u t j a r r a , t h e s eve n s i s t e r s / K u n g ka r r a ka l pa , t he dog dr eami ng / Pap a T j uk ur rp a, or th e s i g n i f i ca n t ka n ga r o o dr e a m i n g / M a r l u T j u ku r r pa . – fr om an epi c arguab l y ri c he r and mor e co m pl e x t h a n t h e M a h ã bh ã r a t a . Ji mmy’s wi fe, Nuni wa Done gan was a key a r t i s t i n t h e e s t a bl i s h m e n t o f Pa pu l a n ku t j a Ar t i st s, and a Te l stra Nati onal Ab ori gi n a l a n d To r r e s S t r a i t I s l a n de r A r t A w a r d ( N AT S IA A ) wi nner wi t h the T j anp i Toyota sc ul p tu r e i n 2 0 0 5 . D i a n n a I s ga r, Pa pu l a n ku t j a A r t i s t s manager encourage d J i mmy to p ai nt d e s i g n s f r o m t h e s a n d dr aw i n g s h e m a de wh i l e t e l l i n g her t j ukur pp a stori e s. J i mmy soon p ai n t e d a l o n g s i de t h e s e n i o r m e n i n B l a cks t o n e ; Fr e d For bes, Cl i ff R e i d , R e ggi e J ac k son and A n dr ew M i t ch e l l a n d by 2 0 0 4 h e w a s e xh i bi t i n g al ongsi de t he ac c l ai me d C l i f f R e i d and K ay i l i A r t i s t s , J a cki e G i l e s i n S y dn ey. Fol l ow i ng t h e p assi ng of hi s wi f e and a f a m i l y di s pu t e h e m ove d t o K a l ka C o m m u n i t y t o be cl ose to othe r f ami l y i nc l ud i ng h i s s i s t e r M o l l y N a m pi t j i n M i l l e r, a f o u n di n g a r t i s t of Ni nku Ar t s whi c h had re c e ntl y b e e n e s t a bl i s h e d. N i n ku A r t s f o l l ow s t h e be s t pr a ct i ce pr i nci pl es deve l op e d i n the new Ngaanya t j a r r a L a n ds a r t ce n t r e s a n d w i t h t h e i r co n s i s t e n t pr ofessi onal ar ts sup p or t, J i mmy ’s ar ti s t i c ca r e e r f l o u r i s h e d. In 2 0 1 0 h e wo n t h e ge n e r a l pai nt i ng aw ard and ove ral l p ri ze of the N AT S IA A A w a r d. Goi ng home through the sp e c tac ul ar bl a ck u l t r a m a f i c m e t a l m o u n t a i n s f o r m e d f r o m ext r usi ons o f the Ear th’s mantl e mi l l i o n s o f ye a r s a go , we s t o p a t t h e S i n g i n g R o cks wher e t he m e tal stone s c l ang l i ke c hu r ch be l l s . I a s k J i m m y t o r e t e l l t h e Wa t i K i pa r a / Bush Tur key stor y assoc i ate d wi th Wara t j a r r a .
Papa Tjukurpa. 20-343. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 122cm. 2020
“ Nga yu k u mamak u n g u r ak u Pap ula n k u t j a k a n ga yu lu p u lk ar a t jit u r ut jit u r ur iny i. Nya n ga t j a Mi t c hell wa lt jak u n g u r a.
”
N ga n a n a t ju ngu p ulk a r ingu .
“ The s t o r y I m a k e i s f r om my f at h e r ’s c ou nt r y, Pap u l a n k a t j a s i de . It mak es me s ad t o t h ink of hi m n ow. T h i s i s Mit c h e ll f a mily c o un t r y t oo ,
”
wh e r e w e g r e w u p t oge t h e r.
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 21-53. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 122cm. 2021
“Ki par a 3 say s, he wants that same f i r e ! ” J i m m y t e l l s m e , w i t h s u ch a r a pi d- f i r e exuber ant r e nd i ti on I c an hard l y ke e p t r a ck o f t h e l a n g u a ge . “S i n g m e t h a t ku n a s t o r y ! ” And so Ji mm y and hi s C ountr y man, M r. M u r r ay s t a r t s i n g i n g t h e t u r l ku s o n g o f t h e K i pa r a Tj ukur r pa whe re the p oor c ol d p e op l e o f Wa r a t j a r r a h u ddl e a r o u n d de f e ca t i n g ( ku n a ) bl ack st ool s ( the roc k s) and f e e l the w a r m t h f r o m t h e n o r t h . “That Wat i Ki p ara ( Bush turkey man) he s t e a l s t h a t f i r e f r o m t h o s e pe o pl e n e a r T j u ku r l a and t hey ch ase hi m al l the way d own t o t h e Au s t r a l i a n B i g h t wh e r e h e j u m ps i n t o t h e sea… ” As we d ri ve b ac k e ast, he p oi nt s t o a l a r ge r o ck f o r m a t i o n h i g h o n t h e m o u n t a i n and excl ai ms “ that’s the Wati Ki p ara” p r e pa r i n g t o t a ke f l i g h t f o r t h e n o r t h we s t t o s e e k fi r e for hi s c ol d f re e z i ng f ami l y. Of l at e, hi s me mor y i s f al te ri ng , ye t J i m m y D o n e ga n r e t a i n s de t e r m i n e d a ge n cy r e f l e ct e d i n hi s st r ong c hoi c e s i n c ol our and d ex t e r i t y i n pl ay f u l m a r k m a ki n g , e m powe r i n g l i n e s wi t h gest ur al gusto j ust l i ke hi s he ar ty la u g h a n d e x pl o s i ve l i n g u i s t i c di ct i o n . T h e a r t wo r ks ar e car eful l y and d e c i si ve l y c onstr uc te d f r o m t h e i n t r i ca t e m i n ds ca pe s o f h i s m e m o r y o f t he t j ukur r pa that thre ad s i tse l f l i ke sy n a ps e s a cr o s s a n d t h r o u g h t h e l a n ds ca pe t h a t h a s sur r ounded hi m si nc e hi s b i r th. W i t h t hi s exp ansi ve k nowl e d ge as a sen i o r m a n o f t h e t j u ku r r pa , eve r y t i m e h e s i n g s a song or pai nts a p ai nti ng i t i s ab out m a n i f e s t i n g t h e s t o r y, r e a f f i r m i n g i t s l o n gev i t y a n ew and defi ni t i ve l y i n c ountr y. T he ar t c en t r e pr ov i de s s u ppo r t a n d a s s i s t a n ce f o r h i m t o engage i n me ani ngf ul d ai l y ac ti v i ty, an d h e ca n o f t e n be s e e n a t N i n u ku pa i n t i n g i n h i s dr essi ng gow n wi th the ai r of a si gni f i c a n t Ho l l y wo o d di r e ct o r wh o s t i l l h a s s o m e t h i n g t o say – somet hi ng new to c ontri b ute to h i s l o n g a n d e n du r i n g s t o r y. T i m Pe a r n
3 K ip a r a – Au s t r a l i a n B u s t a r d , A r d e ot i s a us t r a l i s .
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 21-146. Acrylic on linen. 91 x 91cm. 2021
Papa Tjukurpa. 21-147. Acrylic on linen. 158 x 91cm. 2021
Photo previous spread: Jimmy Donegan enamelling glass for the Walka Waru Kalawtjanga Project at Ninuku Arts, 2020. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
“ K a n ga yu l u t j i t j i kulu mp a ny in an g i p u t ingk a mu n u n a t j u k u l a nyar in g u k a t ju lp u t ju t a… ar ral a pa l pa m u n u ny i- ny i. K a na p uligk a a t un g u tjulpu m u n u n a n g u r a k u t u k at in g u mun un a p a inu r a ngan k u l i n g u m u n u nyar a n p a lua ngu n ga ny u lu pulk a r i n g u m u n u n a k u lat a ngk u n int ir in g u mun u rapi t j a wa k a n u m u n ula p ir uk a k a laya nga p u m at j i n u . Mu n u n a k a la ya wak a nu k u lat a ngk a .
”
K a n ga nyu t u k u l i n i p ulk a r a nyan ga p a t u- nya .
“ Whe n I wa s a boy I liv ed o ut b u s h. I s a t b y the wa t e r h o l e a n d s a w all t he b ir d s lik e p a r r ot s and f i n ch e s . I wo u l d h it t h e m w it h a s t on e an d tak e t h e m ba ck t o ca mp t o ea t . When I got old e r I ga i n e d m o r e s t r e n g t h I le a r nt t o s p ea r t h e rabbi t s . We f o l l ow e d t h e e mu, t hen f ou nd it s eggs, a n d s pe a r e d it t o o. I t h ink ab ou t t h e s e
”
t h i n g s w hen I w o r k .
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 21-55 . Acrylic on linen. 91 x 61cm. 2021
20-496. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 91cm. 2020
Malu Tjukurpa. 21-196. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 91cm. 2021
Photo opposite: Jimmy Donegan at Ninuku Arts, 2020. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
Papa Tjukurpa. 21-148. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 91cm. 2021
Malu Tjukurpa. 20-444. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 61cm.2020
20-445. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 61cm. 2020
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 20-464. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 61cm. 2020
Papa Tjukurpa. 21-58. Acrylic on linen. 122 x 91cm. 2021
“ I nma i n k a r a wa l k a t jun any i t ju k ula t ju t a nyar a Pa pu l a n k a t j a -nya mun u I r r uny t ju- nya . Nyar ta nya , An n u r a , Nga lp u t t i, Ku nk u r r a, Ya np an … Tj ulk pa k u t j u pa t j u t a wat ik u k u t ju, k ap i p it i k u t jup a t j u t a m i n ma k u k ua t jik a ju. Ngur pa r i n ga nyi wi ya nga y uk u mit a… ma lany p a
”
m u n u walt ja t jut a .
“ Whe n I pa i n t , I s i n g t he na mes all of t h e r oc k hol e s a r o u n d Pa pula nk a t ja an d I r r uy n t ju… Nyar ta nya , An n u r a , Na lp ut a t i, Ku nk u r r a, Ya np an … Som e o f t h e m a r e on ly f or men ’s s t or y lines , but t h e r e a r e s o m e t h e w o men c an c ome an d dr i n k f r o m t oo . I wi l l n e v e r f o r ge t m y w if e , my s is t er s , my f a mily
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a n d t h e l i f e w e ha d t her e b ef or e.
Wati Kutjara Wanampi. 20-361. Acrylic on linen. 91 x 61cm. 2020
Photo opposite: Jimmy Donegan at Ninuku Arts, 2021. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
“ W h e n I a m f i n is hed w it h t his w o r k , I w i l l go h o me an d ha ve a r e s t .”
Photo previous spread: Jimmy Dongean and sister Molly Nampatjin Miller at Ninuku Arts, 2020. Photo - Ninuku Arts.
“ N ga yu l u w i ya r i nga ny i wa r k an k u mu nu na ngu l a k u n k u n a r i ny i n g u r a wa t jan k a ngu r a.”
Pitjantjatjara translation thanks to Ebony Benson, Margaret Donegan and Albert Fox.
Jimmy Donegan at Kuntjanu Homelands, 2018. Photo - Meg Hansen
JUNE 18 - JULY 10, 2021 8 HELE CRESCENT ALICE SPRINGS NT 0870. 0428 410 811. art@raftartspace.com.au www.raftartspace.com.au