Robin’s theme is always his traditional country, Walalkara, 700,000 hectares of the Great Victoria Desert protected as the Walalkara Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). 65 kilometres south west of Kaltjiti, this region has one of the highest diversity of reptile species found anywhere in the world. An expert tracker, he has an intimate knowledge of the animals and plants. He creates maps of his country with an easy sense of space and openness. This is the Yankunytjatjara country of the artist Robin Kankapankatja, as senior traditional elder, and his family. They are nguraritja, the people who belong to this south country of Walalkara in the far north west of South Australia on the ·APY Lands.

This stunning example of mapping and memory displayed within this painting re-enforces the strong connection that Robin has with his country of Walalkara. These are the distinctive images of Robin Kankapankatja’s paintings - the trees of Walalkara country and the ridges of sand-hills alternating with the flat, sandy plains and the vital water supply in the rockholes contrast with the black dotted line that depicts spinifex after back burning which Robin plays a key role in advising and assisting APY Land Management.

In this painting Robin has painted the Partjata or Western Quoll which is now extinct in this region and only appears in the South West of Western Australia.

Robin’s theme is always his traditional country, Walalkara, 700,000 hectares of the Great Victoria Desert protected as the Walalkara Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). 65 kilometres south west of Kaltjiti, this region has one of the highest diversity of reptile species found anywhere in the world. An expert tracker, he has an intimate knowledge of the animals and plants. He creates maps of his country with an easy sense of space and openness. This is the Yankunytjatjara country of the artist Robin Kankapankatja, as senior traditional elder, and his family. They are nguraritja, the people who belong to this south country of Walalkara in the far north west of South Australia on the APY Lands.

Robin’s latest work depict travelling journeys from long ago. Travelling from Walalkara to Mimili and Makiri to Iliya. People are travelling in the country, looking for food, water in rock holes, adults are teaching children, making fire and cooking for all of the children. Along the journey groups of people meet and sit down to camp.

This diaristic view depicts Robin’s memories from growing up in the bush. He saw a ‘whitefella’ for the first time at Shirley Well when he was a young teenage boy. As a young man,he worked with cattle at Welbourne Hill and Everard Park. He grew up around Wellborne Hill, and Everard Park stations learning from his father.

Robin’s theme is always his traditional country, Walalkara, 700,000 hectares of the Great Victoria Desert protected as the Walalkara Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). 65 kilometres south west of Kaltjiti, this region has one of the highest diversity of reptile species found anywhere in the world. An expert tracker, he has an intimate knowledge of the animals and plants. He creates maps of his country with an easy sense of space and openness. This is the Yankunytjatjara country of the artist Robin Kankapankatja, as senior traditional elder, and his family. They are nguraritja, the people who belong to this south country of Walalkara in the far north west of South Australia on the APY Lands.

Robin’s latest work depict travelling journeys from long ago. Travelling from Walalkara to Mimili and Makiri to Iliya. People are travelling in the country, looking for food, water in rock holes, adults are teaching children, making fire and cooking for all of the children. Along the journey groups of people meet and sit down to camp.

This diaristic view depicts Robin’s memories from growing up in the bush. He saw a ‘whitefella’ for the first time at Shirley Well when he was a young teenage boy. As a young man,he worked with cattle at Welbourne Hill and Everard Park. He grew up around Wellborne Hill, and Everard Park stations learning from his father.