Abie Jangala

I stumbled across this artist whilst researching my essay. Abie Jangala was born around Thompson's Rockhole approximately 350km, South of Layamanu (Brody,1997) . He has lived in the Northern territory since the 1950's and is a respected Eldar of the Walpiri community (Brody,1997).

Jangala has had a somewhat tumultuous life; in 1928 part of his clan was decimated whilst they were performing a ceremony in retaliation to the death of a white man. Historins referred to the event as the Coniston Massacre.  The Walpiri call it the Killing Times. After this horrible occurance, he returned to his home to begin initiation. Then he worked in The copper mines in Granites for 18 months (Brody,1997).

Watiwayarnu 2005

Water Dreaming 1987

"Synthetic Polymer on Duck" (Brody 1997).

119 x 139.5cm

His works are in relation to Water Dreaming. His works vocalize what Brosy described as; "the creation of waterholes and springs by the Kilkilangi (The Whistling Eagle); the throwing back, to seed the clouds, of water from the permanerd spring at Kurpurlunu, the bringing in (singing) of the rain in 'hard times' and the action of the rain itself in his country" (p110 Brody 1997)

I think they're great; intriguing. Love the use of dull colours so they don't overpower the work.

Brody, A.M, Stories: Eleven Aboriginal Artists, (Craftsman House, Sydney, 1997).