WANKARTU, 2003
155
HELICOPTER TJUNGURRAYI
born c.1946
WANKARTU, 2003
glass
45.5 x 30.5 cm
bears inscription verso: artist’s name and Warlayirti Artists cat. 682/03
Estimate:
$1,800 – 2,500
Sold for $2,196 (inc. BP) in Auction 43 - 25 May 2016, Melbourne
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Private collection, Melbourne
Catalogue text
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Warlayirti Artists that states:
‘Helicopter has depicted some of his traditional country, which is located far to the south west of Balgo, in the Great Sandy Desert. This country is known as Wankartu, named for the tjurru or soakwater that is featured in the centre of the painting. It was in this country that Helicopter was born, and travelled and hunted as a young man with his family. The remaining lines depict the tali, or sand dunes which dominate the landscape of the area.’