Kudditji Kngwarreye

We recently interviewed Sarrita King about people who have influenced her and who's work she likes to collect. Here's what Sarrita had to say,

"Kudditji (Kngwarreye) makes up the majority of my collection. I’ve been lucky enough to sit with him. Every time I talk about him, I have a smile on my face. Every time I look at his art in my home, I smile. I love that experience. I love him as a person and I’ve only had fleeting experiences. Just the richness of who he is." Sarrita King, September 2014

So who is Kudditji (pronounced goo-beh-chee) Kngwarreye? He was born about 1928 and had a traditional bush upbringing at Alhalkere at Utopia Station.  This is about 270 kms north east of Alice Springs. Kudditji's first language is Eastern Anmatyerre.  His sister is the most commercially successful Aboriginal artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

Kudditji's work tends to focus on two main areas - Emu Dreaming, for which he is cultural custodian, and Men’s Ceremonial Dreamings from Boundary Bore.

He is well known for constructing his paintings using strong colours. He reduces his subject down to quite simple forms and transfers the emotional effects of that using colour. He simplifies his ideas into colour. His palette is influenced by the seasons and the weather.

I met him in Alice Springs about 10 years ago.  His work is very powerful, very emotive. It tends to effect people.   Kudditji's painting is unique among indigenous artists in way he reduces his ideas down to block-like shapes which are then combined with the use subtle use of light and colour.

I can easily understand why Kudditji Kngwarreye and his work have had such an impact on Sarrita even though their styles are ultimately very different. If you'd like to see more of his paintings visit our page Kudditji Kngwarreye . You can also read Sarrita King's full interview at Sarrita King - Art, Passion and Story Telling.

View: Kudditji Kngwarreye Paintings