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Item
#: JW99J1 Click picture for Enlargement
Fire Dreaming Tjikari
Size: 213cm x 121cm
Price: US$enquire
Item
#: JW99801 Click picture for Enlargement
Kalwa Dreaming
Size: 182cm x 51cm
Price: US$enquire
Item
#: JW8993 Click picture for Enlargement
Bushtucker
Size: 151cm x 90cm
Price: US$enquire
About the Artist: Born: circa 1925 at Minjilpirri NT
Minjilpirri is north west of Illpili and south of Lake Mackay. This is Kangaroo Dreaming country dotted with limestone soaks. As a child Johnny lived a traditional lifestyle in the desert. His family moved to the Hermannsburg Mission where he worked as labourer constructing the airstrip. During his family’s stay at Hermannsburg, Johnny passed through ceremonies for manhood. From there he moved to Haasts Bluff for the construction of another airstrip and making roads. For this work he received no money, “just tucker” meaning flour, tea, tobacco and meat and vegetables. In 1954 he was chosen along with Nosepeg Tjupurrula, as Aboriginal representative to meet the Queen. In 1960 he moved to Papunya and served on the Papunya Council. Johnny started painting with Geoffrey Bardon and pioneered a distinctive style of overdotting. He was a major force in the painting movement for most of the eighties. He paints events around Tjikarri and Kalipima. This is good water country and his work often depicts the Water Dreaming stories as well as Yam, Fire and Egret stories. His painting Water Dreaming at Kalipima was sold at auction for world record price for Aboriginal Art. He is married to Gladys Napanangka. He has two sons and eight daughters.
