I painted the area further from Ross River and past Arltunga. Back in the olden days the colonisers used to chain up Aboriginal people. I painted this scenery to remember what happened. When I visit this Country, I think of the big changes that happened ever since. The landscape has also changed, yellow used to be a dominant colour with many spinifex and other native grasses. Today we have a lot of buffel grass.
Mervyn Rubuntja was born at the Telegraph Station in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). His mother Cynthia (Kamara) Obitja was a Western Aranda woman. His father was the late Wenten Rubuntja Pengarte, a famous artist. Mervyn’s father was an important role model for him. He was a senior lawman and a respected member of his community. He fought for Aboriginal rights and protection of the land, working alongside the Central Land Council and assisting in the Mabo agreement. When Mervyn was 13 years old, his family moved to Ntaria (Hermannsburg), where he first saw watercolour paintings as he watched his uncles Maurice, Oscar, and Keith Namatjira painting like their father Albert. Arnulf Ebatarinja, another uncle, kindled Mervyn’s painting talent when he gave him some watercolour paperboard and taught him to paint. Mervyn’s family moved back to Mparntwe in 1975, and he began to paint with Basil Rantji, who taught him how to mix colours. In 2018, Mervyn’s artwork was featured in the Badu Gili projection onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House, showcasing his talent and heritage to a wide audience. In 2021, Mervyn won the NATSIAA Awards in Darwin (3D category) in a collaborative work with artist Hubert Pareroultja. His work features in many public art sites around Mparntwe.
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.
