Petermann Ranges (Kaltukatjara/Docker River side), NT
Elton Wirri
watercolour on paper
110 x 160cm (framed)
Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre
ILT02-24
$15,500.00
Sold
I’ve painted Petermann Ranges on the Docker River side, which is my grandmother’s country on my mother’s side. I used to go out there as a child with my family and swim in the waterholes with my older sisters, Christy and Janet, and Marlene and her husband, Ronald. We would go hunting for kangaroo and cook kangaroo tail on the campfire. These were nice memories from my childhood. When I paint this country, it takes me to a happy place of when I was a child. I’m really happy my father taught me to paint.
Elton Wirri is the son of Herrmansburg School artists Doris Abbott and Kevin Wirri. At a young age, Elton came to the art centre with his parents and showed a keen interest in painting watercolours like his father. He immediately displayed a great talent and with some instruction from his father he began painting skilled watercolours from the age of fifteen. He was so keen to paint that if he had no paperboard in front of him he would paint on bits of scrap paper or the table top! As well as pursuing his interest in watercolours Elton has also developed his skills in synthetic polymer painting and has produced a number of works in this medium including portraits combined with landscape. His interests also extend to theatre and he performed in a sellout production of the play ‘Ngapartji Ngapartji’ at the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October 2005. The play completed a sellout week in Melbourne 2006 and at the Sydney Opera House. Elton also performed recently in the award winning play ‘Namatjira’ which toured around the country between 2010 and 2012.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
