Born west of Kintore in the early 1930s, Benny spent his boyhood travelling around this area with his family group, occasionally journeying east to Hermannsburg to collect rations and bring them back to their western homelands. The group continued this lifestyle after Haasts Bluff was established as a ration depot, until one of the senior men of the group died and the remaining members settled at Haasts Bluff. Benny worked on the construction programs at Haasts Bluff and later Papunya, where his main associates were George Tjangala and Charlie Tarawa . Benny tried his hand at a few small boards in the early 1970s, and a decade later began painting more regularly for Papunya Tula Artists. He was actively involved in planning the return to Pintupi homelands in the early 1980s, and then in the establishment of the Kintore Clinic. Benny’s Dreaming started at Pukurru and travelled south-west through Kintore to the site of Pinpirnga, for which he was the key “kirda” (keeper/owner). He had an outstation near this site. Benny often painted Wintaru (Bandicoot) Dreamings for this area.

Writers:

Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer

Date written:

1994

Last updated:

2011