Harry Tjutjuna - Nomad Art

Artist: Harry Tjutjuna
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Artwork Story

Harry Tjutjuna was born circa 1930 at Walytjatjara north east of Pipalyatjara, near the tristate border of South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia. He is a Pitjantjara speaking Ngankari, traditional healer, and law man.

As a young man he moved to Ernabella Mission where he was educated and then worked on the settlement. His jobs included working on bore sinking, fencing, gardening, and with the sheep which the mission ran to pay its way and provide the medical services and education which were the purpose of the mission’s foundation in 1937. Later Harry moved back to the far north-west with his family, living mostly in and around Wingellina, WA and Pipalyatjara on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, SA. Harry began painting in 2005 at Ernabella Arts Centre before moving to Pipalyatjara in 2008 where he paints at Ninuku Arts. Harry paints a few favourite dreamtime stories including Wati Wanka: Spider man; Wati Nyiru, the man who chases the seven sisters; Wati Malu and the Kungka Mingakri’s, the kangaroo man and the female mice. He also paints KungkaTjuta, young girls doing milpatjunanyi, the traditional way of telling stories in the sand.

‘Old generation are here now and i am old generation too. Lot’s of old generation have passed away. What are you going to do? What happens when I pass away?…… New generation got to learn Tjukurpa.’ (Harry Tjutjuna)