Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri facts for kids
Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri (born around 1920, died 2008) was an amazing Pitjantjatjara artist from Central Australia. He started painting on canvas when he was 85 years old! He lived in a place called Mount Liebig and quickly became famous around the world. Besides being an artist, Bill Whiskey was also a ngangkari, which is a traditional healer.
Contents
Life and His Art
Early Life and Family
Bill Whiskey was born in the Pitjantjatjara lands at a place called Pirupa Akla. This was about 130 kilometers south of Kata Tjuta. His family were traditional nomadic hunters and gatherers. This means they moved around a lot to find food.
Bill Whiskey did not meet a white person until he was a teenager. By then, his father and many family members had passed away. The rest of his family moved to a mission at Haasts Bluff.
Settling Down and a New Name
At Haasts Bluff, Bill Whiskey met and married Colleen Nampitjinpa. She was a Luritja woman and also a ngangkari. They had five children together. After working for food at Areyonga, his family finally settled in Mount Liebig in the 1980s.
It was here that Bill Whiskey got his European name. People started calling him "Whiskers" because of his long white beard and his funny sense of humor. This nickname then changed to "Whiskey."
Starting His Painting Journey
Mount Liebig is about 80 kilometers from Papunyua. So, Bill Whiskey knew about the Western Desert Art Movement from its early days. He even went to the opening of the Ikuntji Art Centre. His wife was involved with this art center.
Even with this connection, Bill Whiskey did not start painting until he was 85 years old. This was in December 2005. He simply "walked into the art center and asked for some canvas for himself." He then painted for the Watiyawanu Artists of Amunturrngu Cooperative.
This late start was not a surprise. Pitjantjatjara people were some of the last to start painting for art galleries. They were worried about their sacred dreaming stories being shown to the public and sold.
Bill Whiskey's Unique Style
Bill Whiskey's paintings showed his early nomadic life. They also told stories about a mythical battle from the Cockatoo Dreaming. This battle happened at his birthplace. His artworks show his deep traditional knowledge. His paintings are known for being bold and bright.
Shortly before he passed away in 2008, Bill Whiskey had a very successful art show in London. Six of his artworks sold for more than AU $250,000.
Bill Whiskey's art is now part of important private and public collections. His work has been shown in London, Japan, Milan, and all across Australia. He was also a finalist in the Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2008.
See also
- Art of Australia
