Born: 1930 Region: Western Desert, Gibson Desert, WA/NT Community: Kiwirrkura Language: Pintupi Subjects: Tingari
Johnny Yungut Tjupurrula was born near Tjungimanta to the north-east of the present location of Kiwirrkura. His early life was spent in the region between Wilkinkarra and Kiwirrkura. With other members of his family, Johnny Yungut visited Balgo in the 1950’s. While some of the family remained at Balgo, including his brother Donkeyman Lee Tjupurrula, Johnny returned to the Wilkinkarra region, meeting up with the Evans patrol in 1956. He subsequently walked in to Mount Doreen and Yuendumu with them. When visiting Lapi Lapi rockhole north of Lake Mackay in 1957 he met up with Donald Thomson and thus features in the book Bindibu Country (1975). This encounter led to Johnny Yungut’s family group relocating to Haasts Bluff. Johnny Yungut then moved to Papunya in late 1959. He began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1997, and now lives at Kiwirrkura.His paintings depict the dreaming stories and the travels of the Tingari learned during his own travels, using the traditional concentric circle and line design and diminishing square design in subtle and unusual colour combinations. Hi wife, Walangkura Napanangka is also a highly sought-after artist who has become quite famous worldwide.
1 Ken Watson in Papunya Tula Genesis and Genius, Edited by Hetti Perkins and Hannah Fink, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2000, p. 294
