Makinti Napanangka

Makinti Napanangka was born in approximately 1930 and sadly passed away in January 2011. She was born in the area of Karrkurritinytja (Lake Macdonald) in the Western Desert of Central Australia. Makinti is considered one of Australia’s most influential and talented Aboriginal artists post the Emily Kame Kngwarreye era and prior to her death was considered Australia’s most collectable living Aboriginal artist. She was from the Pintupi language group and region of Central Australia.

Makinti shared that her first contact with white people was seeing them ride camels when she was living at Lupul. She was one of a large group of people who walked into Hassts Bluff in the early 1940’s, together with her husband Nyukuti Tjupurrula (brother of well known Aboriginal artists Nosepeg Tjupurrula) and their infant son Ginger Tjakamarra. Whilst living in Haasts Bluff they had their second child, Narrabri Narrapayi in 1949.  In the late 1950’s the family relocated to Papunya, another Aboriginal community, it was here that they had their third child, Jacqueline Daaru in 1958. In 1961 they welcomed their fourth child Winnie Bernadette in Alice Springs. Finally in the early 1980’s the family relocated to Kintore when it was first established.

Makinti began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1996 but had already had experience working with acrylic paints and canvas during the Kintore and Haasts Bluff art project held in 1993/1994. Her children Ginger, Narrabri (who sadly passed away in 2010) and Jacqueline all went on to have artistic career with Papunya Tula Artists as well. Makinti’s career took off during the mid 1990’s as interest grew and her unique style developed.

A physically small woman she was very robust and strong. Her art is characterised by a more spontaneous approach in illustrating traditional iconography so often seen in Pintupi artwork. Her artworks may seem very abstract with the interplay of colours such as yellow, orange and white with circles and lines throughout however her paintings are still very much based on her Dreaming of Kungka Kutjarra (Two Women). The lines that are found throughout her artworks relate to the hair string ceremonial skirts that women would wear during Pintupi ceremonies. Songs and dances are performed and these are also represented in her artworks through repetitive clusters of lines.

Central Art is honoured to have known Makinti and to have been able to feature some of her amazing artworks. The artworks that are currently still available feature her Kungka Kutjarra Dreaming story. Her artwork is represented in some of the most significant Australian public art collections. She has participated in countless exhibitions since the start of her artistic career and has been recognised as being in the top 50 most collectable Aboriginal Artists of all time. Over her career she was a selected entrant on many occasions in Australians most prestigious art prize, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and was the overall winner of this in 2008. She was also a finalist in the 2003 Clemenger Contemporary Art Award.

Out of respect of Aboriginal culture and Makinti’s family Central Art has removed her photograph. Naming Aboriginal people who have passed away was traditionally forbidden and this practice still occurs today. Traditionally you are required to avoid referring to the deceased directly by name as a sign of respect and to ensure that their spirit is not called upon to return. This has also come to include photographs, filming and voice recordings as technology has grown. Central Art acknowledges that we have names Makinti on our website however it is linguistically difficult to promote her profile and artworks without naming her. We do this as respectfully as possible.