Community Spotlight: Artworks from Balgo
Forthcoming viewing_room
Helicopter Tjungurrayi Australian, Kukatja / Wangkajunga, b. 1947
Wangkartu, 2018
acrylic on canvas
100 x 50 cm
841616
Helicopter has depicted his traditional country, located far to the south west of Balgo, in the Great Sandy Desert. This country is near Nynmi and is known as Wangkartu, named...
Helicopter has depicted his traditional country, located far to the south west of Balgo, in the Great Sandy Desert. This country is near Nynmi and is known as Wangkartu, named for the tjurrnu (soakwater) which was the life source for Helicopter when he was a young man travelling and hunting across the land with his family.
This is living water country indicated by the many circles and connecting underground rivers. Living water remains, meaning in the wet or dry, if you dig a little you will always find water. It sustains life in the desert.
The many parallel lines in the painting represent the tali (sand dunes) which dominate the landscape of the country.
This is living water country indicated by the many circles and connecting underground rivers. Living water remains, meaning in the wet or dry, if you dig a little you will always find water. It sustains life in the desert.
The many parallel lines in the painting represent the tali (sand dunes) which dominate the landscape of the country.
1
of
28