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Kurta-Kurta (Camel Rock)

“This is daddy’s ngurra (home Country, camp), mummy’s ngurra.”

 – Bugai Whyoulter, Cyril Whyoulter’s grandmother

Kurta-kurta is a claypan and soak located north of Parnngurr Aboriginal community, and at the heart of the Karlamilyi River (Rudall River) region. This site lies within Cyril’s ngurra through his grandmother, Bugai. Bugai’s family would regularly travel between Wantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25), a large and culturally significant claypan), and Kurta-kurta, where they would meet with the Yates family and then travel together to Karlamilyi.

The Western Desert term ‘ngurra’ is hugely versatile in application. Broadly denoting birthplace and belonging, ngurra can refer to a body of water, a camp site, a large area of Country, or even a modern house. People identify with their ngurra in terms of specific rights and responsibilities, and the possession of intimate knowledge of the physical and cultural properties of one’s Country. This knowledge is traditionally passed intergenerationally through family connections. Painting ngurra, and in so doing sharing the Jukurrpa stories and physical characteristics of that place, has today become an important means of cultural maintenance. Physical maintenance of one’s ngurra, like cultural maintenance, ensures a site’s wellbeing, and is a responsibility of the people belonging to that area.

Categories: Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

Name: Cyril Whyoulter

Language: Kartujarra

Community: Parnngurr

Biography:

"My mum's father came from Kirriwirri in the North. I can paint that way too. I like painting, it's a good way to learn from old people, keep the stories going. Yunkurra (Billy Atkins), my nyamu (grandfather), he's guiding me about what I can paint and share. My closest family is the Taylor mob; uncle Muuki, Wokka, and Ngalangka (Nola). They help me too."

- Cyril Whyoulter

Cyril's mother's and Father's country is Jartuti. He is the grandson of senior Martumili Artists Bugai Whyoulter and Pinyirr (dec.). Cyril grew up in Parnngurr and Punmu communities. He now lives with his wife and children between Perth and Newman.

Cyril first developed an interest in art making when he began colouring in pencil with his grandfather Larry Patterson. An avid experimentalist and prolific painter, he has since mastered many painting techniques and developed his own signature style in which the influence of his grandmother Bugai is evident. Cyril is respected as a learned cultural leader, and is a strong proponent of the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer.

 

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