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JOHNNY YUNGUT TJUPURRULA (born circa 1930)
Acrylic on Belgian linen
122 x 91 cm

This painting depicts designs associated with Tjungimanta, a site with several soakage
waters, just to the north-east of the Kiwirrkura Community. In mythological times a large
group of Tingari Men passed through this site during their travels to Lake Mackay. Since
events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail is given.

PROVENANCE
Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs, painted at Kintore 2001,
Certificate number JY0105035
Utopia Art, Sydney

EXHIBITED
‘Six Painters from Papunya Tula Artists’, Utopia Art, Sydney, August 2001,
Catalogue number 17

Johnny was born in the vicinity of Tjungimanta, north-east of the Kiwirrkura Community,
circa 1930. His family tended to travel between Lake Mackay and where the Kiwirrkura
Community now stands. During the 1950’s, Johnny, his wife, Walangkura, and members of
the extended family heard about the Balgo Community from other Pintupi travellers and
made the long trip northwards. Some of the family remained in Balgo including his brother
Donkeyman Lee who later became a well known artist for the Warlayirti Art Group in Balgo.
Johnny returned to the Lake Mackay region and in 1956 met up with the Evans Patrol and
travelled to Mount Doreen and Yuendumu with them. He then returned to Lake Mackay
and when visiting Lappi Lappi rockhole north of Lake Mackay in 1957 he met up with
Donald Thompson and as a result features in the book ‘Bindibu Country ’. This meeting
led to the party leaving the desert and travelling to Haasts Bluff. He moved to live at the
Papunya Community when it was established in late 1959. In 1999 Johnny contributed to
the Kiwirrkura men’s painting as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.

REPRESENTED
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands