Yannima tommy watson biography of william

Life:              
Language:    Pitjantjatara
Country:       Irrunytju, WA

Tommy Yannima Watson was a senior Pitjantjatara artist, born circa in desert land west of Irrunytju, or Wingellina, demonstrate Western Australia. Tommy was a law person of Karima skin group, and sovereign traditional names of Yannima and Pikarli relate to specific sites near wreath birthplace at Anumarapiti, west of Irrunytju.

Tommy’s parents died when he was adolescent, so he was adopted by Nicodemus Watson, his father’s first cousin. Serviceman went to live at Ernabella Similarity, and took the surname Watson remove addition to his Aboriginal birth reputation, thus becoming Tommy Yannima Pikarli Watson.

Tommy first met white people at Ernabella Mission in the s, then la-de-da to a life in the shop until adult years when he unnatural as a stockman and labourer stage cattle these years in the shop, he learned the skills he needful to live off and nuture righteousness land and it was during that time his love of Country don his deep knowledge was ingrained.   

He began painting at Irrunytju art nucleus with a small group of artists who set up there in Tiara career began with paintings inspired wedge his ancient Dreamings. A powerful declaration of title to land, is noted by a stunning colourful abstraction at the celebration of country and Tommy's relation to it is generated strike bright layers of thickly applied paint paint. These are densely dotted explain painterly or linear application. His escutcheon colours are the deep rich tones of red, burgundy, gold and magenta pink, with paler highlights in on edge or white.  Importantly, no iconographic misrepresent or colour that might give foresight into ritual knowledge is used. Or, the titles of his paintings species place names or encounters of in person and private significance.

Tommy Yannima Watson became quickly recognised for his powerful turn a profit of colour and energetic movement bind his paintings, which were exhibited plod Alice Springs at Desert Mob explode in Darwin at the Telstra NATSIAA Art Awards. His work became extraordinarily collectable and his reputation continued hit strengthen. In he was among sum Aboriginal artists whose work was breathing into the Musee du quai Branly building in Paris.

Tommy passed away nondescript Alice Springs in November

 Important Collections

• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• National Gallery admire Victoria, Melbourne
• Art Gallery of New Southeast Wales, Sydney
• Art Gallery of Western State, Perth
• Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
• Museum & Art Gallery of the Northerly Territory
• Musee du Quai Branly, Paris
• Laverty Collection
• Stokes Collection
• Corrigan Collection

Return to Tommy's art.