Tjunka Lewis (Dec)

Tjunka Lewis is from Papulankutja/ Blackstone. He is famous not only for his painting but also beautiful wood carving and spear making. He worked for many years in Blackstone and originally painted with Papulankutja Artists and now paints for Warakurna Artists. Tommy Mitchell is his nephew. Tommy will often paint collaboratively with Tjunka. Both men paint stories from their country. Including Wakalpuka and Walu. Tjunka mostly paints a story about the Patjarrtja (native quoll, sometimes referred to as a native cat). Patjarrtja was travelling around. He could walk for a very long way, following the creek country. You can not find the Patjarrtja anymore in the Ngaanyatjarra region as they have become extinct from due to feral cats. Tommy Mitchell says that Tjunka’s country Wakalpuka, a rockhole at the base of Mt Fanny on the road from Warakurna to Blackstone is a special place. Tjunka also paints a story about an emu man. He was walking around and making a noise from his throat. It was a funny sound and his throat exploded! The young emu boys were also walking around. Nothing more can be said about this tjukurrpa. This is a really story.