Lennard Walker is a senior Pitjantjatjara Law Man from the Great Victoria Desert in remote Western Australia. He was born around 1946 in the area of Tjukaltjara and Kuru Ala to the north of the community settlement of Tjuntjuntjara. As is custom in Aboriginal law he has strong cultural obligations and responsibilities for this country even though it is a strong Women's site of the Kungkarangkalpa Tjukurpa, known more widely as the Seven Sisters Dreaming. This is an epic songline which traverses much of the Western Desert.
In the 1950's Lennard encountered Europeans for the first time and with his family spent some time living at Warburton Mission where he learnt to speak english. He later joined relatives at Cundeelee Mission and typically spent much time "out bush" following ceremonial cycles and going through the many stages of Aboriginal law.
Lennard also paints the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa of Pukara, a story depicting two snakes, a father and son who are travelling across country during ceremonial time. Along with the Kungkarangkalpa Tjukurpa the Wati Kutjara story is one of the most important and wide ranging stories in Spinifex country. Although much of the specific detail is dangerous and secret the general actions and directions of the father and son are well known and understood to have been essential to the formation and activation of much of the country.
Water is a precious resource and thus permanent waterholes have sacred associations. They are guarded by their creators, Wanampis, Dreaming Serpent Beings, who have magical abilities. These Dreaming Beings are powerful and often dangerous so Anangu must approach them with respect and perform certain ritual according to the Law.
Lennard has lived all of his life in the Great Victoria Desert although travels to Warburton and Patjar to spend time with family from the north. He has been painting with the Spinifex Arts Project since its inception in 1997 and is an invaluable member of the group.
Living most of the time in Tjuntjuntjara, Lennard is married to well-known artist Ngalpingka Simms. They live with their extended families.
Lennard Walker is a senior Pitjantjatjara Law Man from the Great Victoria Desert in remote Western Australia. He was born around 1946 in the area of Tjukaltjara and Kuru Ala to the north of the community settlement of Tjuntjuntjara. As is custom in Aboriginal law he has strong cultural obligations and responsibilities for this country even though it is a strong Women's site of the Kungkarangkalpa Tjukurpa, known more widely as the Seven Sisters Dreaming. This is an epic songline which traverses much of the Western Desert.
In the 1950's Lennard encountered Europeans for the first time and with his family spent some time living at Warburton Mission where he learnt to speak english. He later joined relatives at Cundeelee Mission and typically spent much time "out bush" following ceremonial cycles and going through the many stages of Aboriginal law.
Lennard also paints the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa of Pukara, a story depicting two snakes, a father and son who are travelling across country during ceremonial time. Along with the Kungkarangkalpa Tjukurpa the Wati Kutjara story is one of the most important and wide ranging stories in Spinifex country. Although much of the specific detail is dangerous and secret the general actions and directions of the father and son are well known and understood to have been essential to the formation and activation of much of the country.
Water is a precious resource and thus permanent waterholes have sacred associations. They are guarded by their creators, Wanampis, Dreaming Serpent Beings, who have magical abilities. These Dreaming Beings are powerful and often dangerous so Anangu must approach them with respect and perform certain ritual according to the Law.
Lennard has lived all of his life in the Great Victoria Desert although travels to Warburton and Patjar to spend time with family from the north. He has been painting with the Spinifex Arts Project since its inception in 1997 and is an invaluable member of the group.
Living most of the time in Tjuntjuntjara, Lennard is married to well-known artist Ngalpingka Simms. They live with their extended families.