BORN: 1935
LANGUAGE GROUP: Anmatyerr
REGION: Irrunytju, Western Australia
View Tommy’s artwork here
“My grandfather’s country, grandmother’s country. When they were alive, they would take me around the country, when I was a kid. That dreamtime country. That’s why we look after the country, go out whenever we can, see if the rock-holes are good.” I want to paint these stories so that others can learn and understand about our culture and country.
Yannima Pikarli Tommy Watson is internationally recognised as one of the most significant aboriginal artists of our time. Tommy was born around 1935 west of the community of Irrunytju, also known as Wingellina, in Western Australia, near the junction of its border with the Northern Territory and South Australia. He is a senior Pitjantjatara elder and Law man of Karima skin group. His use of strong vibrant colours such as oranges, burgundies, reds, ivory, blues,) create unfettered, sumptuous and complex compositions that symbolically represent the stories embedded in his country. In 2005 he was commissioned to produce artwork to be permanently installed in the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, France, which opened in 2006. Following the tradition of French presidents building museums as monuments to their time in office, it was brought to completion by President Jacques Chirac. The painting Wipu Rockhole (2005), was enlarged and reproduced on stainless steel tiles which adorn a ceiling within the museum. He was one of 8 indigenous artists chosen for permanent installations including Ningura Napurrula who is also on exhibition in the Hotel.