Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula, “Water Dreaming Tjikari”, 1998, Acrylic on Linen, 121 x 182 cm
Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula was born 1925 at Mintjilpirri, north-west of the Kangaroo Dreaming site of Ilpili waterhole. He was one of the founding members of the Western desert Aboriginal art movement. He was an extremely innovative artist who depicted traditional ceremonial ground designs as abstract depictions on canvas and board.
Warangkula’s painting career began after working as a labourer for many years building airstrips and settlements in Haasts Bluff. In return for his work building and labouring, he was remunerated with consumable goods. After moving from Haasts Bluff to Papunya, Warangkula served on the Papunya Council along with Mick Namarai, Limpi Tjapangati and Kingsley Tjumgarrayi.
During the 1960’s, Warangkula’s rapidly developed a distinctive style of his own which came to be known as ‘overdotting’. He uses several layers of dots to depict his dreaming’s, which consist of water, yam, fire and egret stories. This more painterly approach signified his expanding encounter with the outside world, creating effects that art patron Geoffrey Bardon called ‘tremulous illusion’. Warangkula’s artworks are strictly Aboriginal stories without conscious European influence, they remain of major significance and are of considered of modern aesthetic.