Whiskey Tjukangku facts for kids

Whiskey Tjukangku is a talented Aboriginal artist from South Australia. He creates beautiful paintings for Iwantja Arts. This is a special art center in Indulkana. Indulkana is located on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Whiskey Tjukangku is an elder of the Yankunytjatjara people. He is also a ngangkaṟi, which means he is a traditional healer. In 2012, one of his artworks was chosen as a finalist for a big art prize. This was the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. His brother, Barney Wangin, and his granddaughter, Kaylene Whiskey, are also artists.

Early Life and His Name

Whiskey Tjukangku was born around 1939. He was born in the bush near Umuwa. This area is in north-western South Australia. When he was a young boy, a friend gave him the name "Whiskey". People say he took this name because he found it hard to say his own Aboriginal name.

Growing Up and Working

Whiskey Tjukangku grew up in a few different places. He spent time at the mission in Ernabella. He also lived at De Rose Hill. This was a cattle station along the Stuart Highway. He never went to school.

As a child, he learned how to work with horses and cattle. He learned these skills at De Rose Hill. When he was a teenager, he started working as a jackaroo. A jackaroo helps to gather cattle. He worked as a stockman for many years. He worked on several cattle stations across central Australia.

He spent a long time working on the land of the Arrernte people. This is in the Northern Territory. He often shows these places in his paintings. Later, he moved back south. He wanted to be closer to his homeland. This is the place where he and his family were born. He settled in Indulkana and has lived there ever since.

His Art and Style

Whiskey Tjukangku was one of the first men to start painting in Indulkana. He was also one of the first members of Iwantja Arts. Besides painting, he also does printmaking. He uses a method called intaglio. This involves cutting designs into wooden objects.

His artworks show his own thoughts and memories. They are about his travels and experiences in the central Australian desert. He often paints about places he used to work. He also paints places he remembers fondly. This is different from most traditional Yankunytjatjara artists. They usually paint about their Wapar (Dreaming).

A common design in Tjukangku's art is puṉu. This is wood used for making traditional tools. Sometimes, the wood is both what he paints and what he paints on! The objects in his art often look more realistic. This is different from most Western Desert art. But his art still has clear abstract shapes and elements.

Tjukangku uses natural, earthy colors. He uses rich shades of red, brown, ochres, and black. He also uses lines and areas of white dots. These dots help to show shapes and movement in his paintings.

Exhibitions and Collections

Whiskey Tjukangku's art has been shown in group exhibitions. These have been at big art galleries since 2010. He had his first solo exhibition in April and May 2011. This show was in Alice Springs. He had a second solo show at the same place in July and August 2012.

One of the artworks from his first solo show was bought by the National Gallery of Victoria. This famous gallery is in Melbourne. Other works by Tjukangku are kept in several major private galleries in Australia. Some of his earliest prints are on display at the South Australian Museum.