Erlikilyika facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erlikilyika
Born	c.1865 Akeltye (McKenzie's Waterhole), Northern Territory, Australia
Died	c.1930–1945
Nationality	Of the Arrernte people
Known for	Sketches, sculpture, anthropology, translation
Spouse(s)	Utnirarenaka Perrurle

Erlikilyika (born around 1865, died between 1930 and 1945) was an Aboriginal Australian artist. He was also a talented sculptor and interpreter. Known to Europeans as Jim Kite or Jim Kyte, he was an Arrernte man. He belonged to the Southern Arrernte or Pertame language group. Erlikilyika was born in Central Australia. He became the first artist from Central Australia to gain national fame for his art. People especially loved his animal carvings made from soft stone, his drawings, and his sculptures. His work was first shown in an exhibition in Adelaide in 1913.

Life Story

Early Years

Erlikilyika was likely born near his family's traditional home. This place was called Akeltye, also known as McKenzie's Waterhole. It was located on Coglin Creek, around 1860–1865. This was soon after the first European explorer, John McDouall Stuart, arrived in 1860.

He was a Southern Arrernte man. His first language was Pertame, also known as Southern Arrernte. McKenzie's Waterhole was close to Charlotte Waters, Northern Territory. This was a small town with a telegraph station. The station was part of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. As a young boy, Erlikilyika worked at this telegraph station. He lived there for most of his life. He also worked along the telegraph line. This helped him learn English and Kaytetye. He was part of the first generation to grow up during a time of big changes in the area.

Artist and Helper

Erlikilyika began his art career by carving local animals. He also carved pipe stems from white soapstone. He sold these carvings to travelers passing by. He used simple tools for his carving. These included a penknife, wire, and a shearing blade.

He met Frank Gillen in 1875. Later, he traveled with Gillen and Walter Baldwin Spencer on a big trip. This trip was from 1901 to 1902. It was for studying different cultures. Erlikilyika was a guide and interpreter. He was the only person on the trip who spoke Kaytetye. He also helped with their research.

He showed amazing artistic talent during the trip. He made many sketches. He also carved items from wood and kaolinite clay. Museum expert Jason Gibson noted that Erlikilyika "sculpted and decorated objects of wood and kaolin meerschaum clay". He even made his own special notes to help Spencer record a "Dreaming-story". He also drew unusual pictures in one of Gillen's notebooks.

Another Arrernte man, Parunda (also called Warwick), joined them. Gillen gave Erlikilyika a book to draw in. In this book, Erlikilyika created 27 detailed drawings. They showed his daily life and the culture of their camp. These included action scenes, pictures of a woman and a stockman, and portraits of Spencer and Parunda. Gillen kept the book and later gave it to his sons.

Gillen wrote down some "sacred" songs. These songs were about ancient beings. One song was about the "Great Snake of Okilcha (Akeltye)". Erlikilyika's voice was featured in this song. Spencer wrote that the song belonged to Jim, "a snake-man named Erli-killi-kurra". The first ethnographic film ever taken of Aboriginal people was on April 3, 1901. It showed the ceremony linked to this song.

Archaeologist John Mulvaney pointed out that Erlikilyika was not given enough credit. He played a very important role in Spencer and Gillen's famous book, The Native Tribes of Central Australia.

Becoming Famous

Erlikilyika's carvings were first shown to the public in March 1910 in Adelaide. In 1913, he traveled to Adelaide with Harry O. Kearnan. Kearnan was a telegraph master and a big supporter of Erlikilyika. His art was shown at the Selborne Hotel. The newspapers loved his work. One article in The Register called him a "black genius".

The article described some of his carvings in detail. These included a marsupial rat, snakes, and birds. It also mentioned his detailed paintings on boomerangs. The reporter wrote about Erlikilyika's lively explanations during an interview. The reporter thought his work should be bought for the national collection. This was likely the first solo art show by an Aboriginal artist in Australia. During this visit, Erlikilyika probably made 24 botanical drawings. These drawings had both their Arrernte and scientific names. The South Australian Museum later bought them.

Erlikilyika was the first artist from Central Australia to be recognized nationally. People admired his carvings of animals in soft stone, his drawings, and his sculptures. Herbert Basedow, a geologist and doctor, bought many of Erlikilyika's works. These are now in the National Museum of Australia. Basedow also became friends with Erlikilyika. Erlikilyika helped him understand ceremonies.

Later Life

We do not know the exact date Erlikilyika died. The telegraph station at Charlotte Waters was no longer used. The Central Australia Railway also bypassed the area. The last stories about him were from 1923. A newspaper mention in 1926 said he was "old". Some say he died as late as 1945. However, when his brother, Jack Kite, was part of ceremonies in 1935, Jim was not mentioned.

His wife, Utnirarenaka Perrurle, was from the Arltunga area. There are no records of them having any children.

Art in Museums

Erlikilyika's artworks are now very valuable. The South Australian Museum has the largest collection of his carvings. Photographs and other items from his work with Gillen and Spencer are at Museums Victoria. Some of his art is also displayed at the Old Timer's Traeger Museum in Alice Springs.

The sketchbook from Basedow's collection is in the South Australian Museum Archives. The rest of Basedow's collection is at the National Museum of Australia. Some of Erlikilyika's work is also held at the Australian Museum in Sydney.

His Names

Erlikilyika was known to Europeans by several names. These included Jim Kite, Jim Kyte, or Jim Kite Penangke.

According to Ted Strehlow's family records, his Arrernte name comes from "Alilkilajaka". This means "he slipped" or "glided away". Strehlow said this refers to a kite spirit ancestor in a local Dreamtime story. The Arrernte elder Mick McLean helped translate the name for Strehlow. It has also been spelled Alyelkelhayeka. Gillen's diary from 1875 lists a man called "Ar-lee'kill-yicca". Erkiliakirra seems to be another way to spell it. Spencer wrote it in his diary as Erli-killi-kurra. Jason Gibson noted that he "was of the Penangk [s]ubsection".

The Australian Dictionary of Biography suggests that erlia means emu. So, his totemic name might be linked to an emu ritual area. This area was near Charlotte Waters at the Adnyultultera waterhole.