Born in 1934 at Blackstone, Western Australia, Ungakini lives and works at Ernabella. 'I was born at Blackstone, Western Australia, where I grew up with my family.
I came to Ernabella mission as a young woman with my mother, father and two younger brothers.
I began working in the craft room and I made floor rugs from the wool the older women were spinning and I helped rolling then into bales.
I did not learn how to weave, nor how to paint and I never did batik.
A number of my old workmates now live in other communities that did not exist then, namely Fregon, Amata and Pipalyatjara.
I continued to work at the art centre after I got married, but I also had various domestic jobs.
I took up bread making with Mr Bill Edwards.
The baking was done in the house where Anilaya Office now is, the oven is still there.
I had four children at that time.
The last few years have been sad for me.
I lost my first son in 2000 and my mother died the same year.
My husband passed away in 2002.
I first started to make art in 2002.
First, mukata (beanies) from emu feathers, then I made figures from tjanpi, (Spinifex grass) and now I am painting on canvas - for the first time.' Since this statement was translated in 2003, Ungakini has gone on to become one of Ernabella Arts most well known painters, having developed a distinct, fluid style.
Her work was collected in 2011 by the University of Newcastle, and in 2010 by ArtBank. In July 2012 she will be exhibiting for the first time in Singapore..
Born in 1934 at Blackstone, Western Australia, Ungakini lives and works at Ernabella. 'I was born at Blackstone, Western Australia, where I grew up with my family.
I came to Ernabella mission as a young woman with my mother, father and two younger brothers.
I began working in the craft room and I made floor rugs from the wool the older women were spinning and I helped rolling then into bales.
I did not learn how to weave, nor how to paint and I never did batik.
A number of my old workmates now live in other communities that did not exist then, namely Fregon, Amata and Pipalyatjara.
I continued to work at the art centre after I got married, but I also had various domestic jobs.
I took up bread making with Mr Bill Edwards.
The baking was done in the house where Anilaya Office now is, the oven is still there.
I had four children at that time.
The last few years have been sad for me.
I lost my first son in 2000 and my mother died the same year.
My husband passed away in 2002.
I first started to make art in 2002.
First, mukata (beanies) from emu feathers, then I made figures from tjanpi, (Spinifex grass) and now I am painting on canvas - for the first time.' Since this statement was translated in 2003, Ungakini has gone on to become one of Ernabella Arts most well known painters, having developed a distinct, fluid style.
Her work was collected in 2011 by the University of Newcastle, and in 2010 by ArtBank. In July 2012 she will be exhibiting for the first time in Singapore..