Ginger Wikilyiri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ginger Wikilyiri
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| Born | c. 1932 (age 92–93) Kunamata, South Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Years active | 2005 – present |
| Organization | Tjungu Palya |
| Style | Western Desert art |
| Relatives | Wingu Tingima (sister) |
Ginger Nobby Wikilyiri is a famous Indigenous Australian artist. He comes from a place called Nyapaṟi, South Australia, in the desert. His paintings tell important stories about his culture and land.
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Ginger Wikilyiri's Early Life
Ginger Wikilyiri was born around 1932. This was in the desert of north-western South Australia. His birthplace is Kunamata, a special waterhole south of Nyapaṟi.
His family lived a traditional way of life in the bush. They are part of the Pitjantjatjara people. Ginger has an older sister named Wingu.
Later, Ginger settled in a place called Ernabella. He worked in land management and also in growing plants. For many years, he was a ranger at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. He lived in a community called Mutitjulu while working there.
His Artwork and Stories
Ginger Wikilyiri's paintings share stories from his Dreaming. The Dreaming is a deep spirituality that connects him to the land. It helps him understand his family and the world.
The Dreaming linked to his birthplace, Kunamata, features the kuniya. This is a type of python. It is a special animal, known as a totem, for his people.
Painting Sacred Legends
Ginger's art shows important legends about his ancestors. These stories explain how they created the land around Kunamata. He also paints similar tales about Piltati. This is another nearby waterhole and a very sacred site for Pitjantjatjara men.
Many of Ginger's main paintings use a lot of Pink color. This is quite unusual for the Western Desert style of art.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Ginger Wikilyiri's artwork has been shown in many big exhibitions. These have been in cities across Australia and in other countries. You can find his paintings in important places. These include the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia. His art is also at the Australian National University and the National Gallery of Australia.
His paintings were chosen as finalists for the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. This happened in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
