JOHNNY WARANGKULA TJUPURRULA (1925- 2001) Water Dreaming at Tjikarri, circa 1975 Acrylic paint on composite panel 105 x 71 cm Synthetic polymer paint on composition board 41 3/8 x 28 in. Provenance Acquired directly from the artist by a resident of Papunya in 1977. Sotheby's, Aboriginal, African & Oceanic Art, Sydney, 09/11/1998, Lot n° 184 Private collection, Germany Notes Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula (1925-2001) was a founding figure of contemporary Australian Aboriginal art and a key contributor to the Papunya Tula movement. Born in Mintjilpirri, near the sacred site of Ilpili in the Northern Territory, he belonged to the Pintupi/Luritja language group. He spent his childhood in the desert before his family moved to the Hermannsburg mission, where he received a traditional initiation and then worked on various infrastructure projects across Central Australia. In the 1960s, Warangkula moved to Papunya and, from 1971, became a member of the local council, actively participating in the birth of the Western Desert art movement. He quickly distinguished himself as an innovative painter, developing a distinctive technique of over-dotting to illustrate Dreaming stories, particularly those relating to water, fire, yams and ancestral journeys. His use of dots was both expressive and symbolic, often concealing hidden meanings from the uninitiated while generating vibrant, textured surfaces imbued with energy. Warangkula's works reflect the spiritual and physical dimensions of his country. He transformed the traditional motifs of the desert floor into powerful compositions, using ochres in earthy tones, a calligraphic brushwork and rhythmic stippling, restoring the movement and vitality of the landscape. His style became emblematic of the emerging art of the desert and influenced several generations of artists. His work has been acquired by major institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Today, Warangkula is recognised as one of the most imaginative and influential artists of the early Papunya period. His early and mature works remain highly prized on the art market, cementing his central place in the history of Australian Aboriginal art.