ARTIST SPOTLIGHT : STEWART KARMBURMAR HOOSAN: ARTWORKS FROM THE BUNGALOW

Stewart Karmburmar Hoosan is Jungkayi (boss) for the Robinson Wollogorang Country belonging to the Kunindirrri-Garrwa people near the NT and QLD border. Stewart paints country and tells the story of his incredible journey across the North as a ringer - from Queensland, across the Northern Territory and into West Australia’s Kimberley. His primary motivation and the foundation for Stewart’s art is his desire to ‘tell a story’. His story is one of respect for country, memories of lived experiences and a desire to tell the stories of massacres and resistance that are part of his family’s lore.

“I need to tell the stories of how the settlers came and shot half our people and how the old fella – my great grandfather Mayawagu was fighting. I want to tell the story of the old people, how they told us. Stories of shoot outs, poddy dodgers, the old pub and the jail. The settlers and their aboriginal wives, the mission days.”

Part of the Stolen Generation, from the age of 9 Stewart was taken away to work for a white man called Walter Camp. ‘They put me on a donkey first to learn how to ride and later I started bullock and horse droving’. Stewart spent time droving through Queensland and his grandmother’s country Mindibirrina (China Wall) with Walter till the age of 21. At times he said he wanted to be back in the Territory, ‘I'd try and sneak back, but they would track me up’. 

When Stewart turned 21, he went to look for his mother who was now in Derby, West Australia. Stewart travelled to Derby and spent 1967 to 1970 there, working as a stockman for Jack Camp, Walter’s brother. Eventually, Stewart and his mother returned to Robinson River country to Wadawadla (black fella crossing) and Wandangula (police lagoon) at Sandridge to live with his wife Nancy McDinny and her family.

Short St Gallery invites you to view a new collection of works on paper documenting the story of Stewart’s life from horse racing, to droving, to massacres, to country and culture. Please see the link provided below, a price list is available via enquiries@shortstgallery.com.