Walangari Karntawarra

Walangari Karntawarra Jakamarra

WALANGARI WANGARDI KARNTAWARRA JAKAMARRA, also known as COLIN MCCORMACK, was born in Alice Springs in 1961.

He is of the Arrernte, Luritja, Walpiri, Yankuntjatjarra, Pintubi, Anmatjerre and Alyawarre peoples of the Central and Western Desert.

Walangari has held many executive positions and directorships of various Aboriginal Councils. He chaired CAAMA (the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association), the first Aboriginal owned radio station and was a director of the first Aboriginal television station, Imparja. He is committed to improving the lot of his people and helping ensure that the voice of Aboriginal Australia is heard.

He has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees and an Associate Diploma of Aboriginal Education.

Walangari has designed and conducted his own very successful cross-cultural course at the Institute of Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs. The course was attended by many overseas and local professionals and students.

Like the course, Walangari sees his paintings as a form of communication between cultures.

Walangari is multi talented. He is a gifted musician and dancer, with a wonderful stage presence.

It was the legacy of his famous great-grandfather, Albert Namatjira and the inspiration of his grandfather Clifford Possum that encouraged him to paint.

While his paintings tell the traditional stories of his people and feature the iconography of the "Western Desert", Walangari uses a fuller colour spectrum and unique effects to forge a striking path within modern Aboriginal Art.

His paintings are widely acclaimed and he has exhibited extensively both in Australia and overseas.

Walangari at Hamburg opening

In 1995 he painted the first prize for the inaugural Indigenous Surfing Competition sponsored by Billabong and Coca Cola.

Walangari's life and paintings have been featured in many TV programmes & publications, including the "International Artist" magazine.

The Australian Museum featured Walangari in the CD ROM that they produced as part of their "Living Colour" exhibition in March 2000.

He was commissioned to paint a work for the Rugby World Cup Paris Exhibition in 2003 and in the same year his work featured in the annual selling exhibition “Art Paris” in the Carrousel du Louvre.

The National Gallery of Australia has acquired one of his early works.

Galerie

Ausstellungen:

1993    Parker Gallery, Sydney.
1994    Third Annual World Tattoo Convention, Frankfurt
            Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney.
            Gallery Savah, Sydney
            Wagner Gallery, Hong Kong.
            Dreamtime Gallery, Santa Fe
1995    Old Circus, Paris.
            Gondawana Gallery, Alice Springs.
            Wagner Gallery, Sydney.
            Mountain Artery, Katoomba.
1996    Volerkunde Muesum, Vienna.
            Vienna Hilton, Vienna.
1997    The Elizabeth Gallery, Sydney
            World Heritage Collection, NSW State Parliament.
            Bruce Watling Gallery, Southport.
            Father John Thierry School, Sydney.
            Aboriginal Art and Cultural Centre, Alice Springs.
            Musee Espace, Beziers, France.
1998    Private Gallery, Brussels.
            "Heart of Australia", Sydney Airport
1999    Galerie Luc Queyrel, 34, rue Mazarine, Paris.
            Michael Carr Gallery, Sydney.
2000    Aust. Olympic Exhibition,Galeries Lafayette, Paris.
2001    Phat Cat, Invercargill, New Zealand.
2002    Lotus Gallery Surfers Paradise QLD
            Xzibit, McMahons Point, Sydney.
2003    Art Paris, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris.
            L’Art Emmele Exhibition, City Hall, Paris.
2004    Batchelor Institute, NT
2005    Black Fella’s Dreaming, Darlinghurst, Sydney
            The Outback Gallery, Sydney
2006    Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai
2007    The Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
            Galerie Le Cocon, Hamburg
            “Earth & Spirit”, Erie Art Museum, PA, USA

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:

                  Australian National Gallery, Canberra
                   Stuttgart Museum, Germany
                   Costello Collection, Sydney
                   Kneed-McDaid Collection, Sydney
                   Jagamarra Collection, Sydney
                   Mural, University of NSW, Sydney
                   Coomalie Cultural Centre, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous
                   Tertiary Education, Northern Territory

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:

                   Global Colours, Sydney
                   Jagamarra Productions,Sydney
                  Saga Fjord, Cruise Ship,
                   Museum of Sydney
                   Dymocks Sydney Inaugural Artist of the Month
                   Master Artist in Residence, Coomalie Cultural Centre,
                   Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, NT