Hayden Wilson

The son of Grace Dodson and grandson of Annunciata Dartinga & Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Hayden is surrounded by artistic excellence. Hayden completed his year 12 studies in 2021 and now works full-time at the Art Centre, the future of Hayden’s artistic practice is exciting.

Language Ngangi’Kurungurr & Murrinh Patha

Dreaming Emire (olive python)

My name is Hayden Jinjar Wilson, Im a Tyemirri man from Peppimenarti. My two main totems are the Water python which we call ‘Emira’ (Emire) in the Tyemirri language and Deewin which is the moon. I am named after the patriarch of my family, my grandfather Harry Jinjar Wilson. I come from a line of artists which include my grandmothers Regina Pilawuk Wilson and Annunciata Dartinga and also my Mother Grace Dodson. I like to paint what is significant to me and what has made an impact to who I am now as a person, these include the saltwater waves of my Kawu’s country, Ngudaniman where I spent the other half of my childhood growing up with my mother’s side of the family, I paint Deewin and Emire both totems that I feel connected to, the sand bubbler crabs which me and my cousins used to chase on the beaches of Ngudaniman, I’ve always admired the patterns they make on the beach with the small balls of sand which have now gave me the inspiration to interpret those designs into Durrmu (dot) paintings as a tribute to the crabs that made part of my childhood fun! I’ve also painted the didjeridoo which is also my grandmother’s totem. I paint both linear and Durrmu paintings because both types of painting contribute to how I perceive real life experiences and memories to be as paintings. The colour pallet I normally use consist of the different colours of the water, sky and environment also strong black and white colours to represent the spiritual world (dreaming).