23   SOLD

BILL WHISKEY TJAPALTJARRI (born circa 1920)
‘Rock holes and country near the Olga’s’
Acrylic on Belgian linen
180 x 270 cm

This painting depicts the country and sites around and near Uluru and the Olga’s where
Bill Whiskey grew up and shows the journey he made to Areyonga.

PROVENANCE
Watiyawanu Artists of Amunturrngu Aboriginal Corporation, painted at Mt. Leibig 2007,
Certificate number 77-07214

Bill Whiskey is originally from Pirupa Akla (the Olgas) area. When he was a young man most
of Whiskey’s family had passed away and the people in this area were moving in the direction
of Haasts Bluff Mission. None of them had yet seen white people and became frightened as

they thought that they were mamu people (bad spirit people). The group continued to travel to

an area near what is now called Areyonga where a Patypirri (Missionary) had settled. This is

where Tjapaltjarri and the others first ate white man food. He spent little time with Patupirri and

moved back to Haasts Bluff mission where he met his wife Colleen Nampitjinpa. Whiskey

practiced as a Medicine Man and people would come from afar to be treated. Whilst on the

mission at Haasts Bluff he was engaged by the contract fencers as a cook and gained the

name ‘Whiskey’ due to his having very long white whiskers.

REPRESENTED
Art Gallery of South Australia