Colin Tjakamarra McCormack b. 1961 Alice Springs, NT

Also known as:
  • Walangari Karntawarra Jakamarra
  • Colin McCormack
  • Artist (Painter)
Walangari Karntawarra is an Aboriginal elder and internationally exhibited painter originally from Alice Springs whose work uses his traditional 'Central Western Desert' iconography to tell Dreaming stories. Tertiary educated, he is also a talented musician, teacher and public speaker. Walangari regards his art as a means of cross-cultural communication.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1994
Name
Colin Tjakamarra McCormack
Also known as:
  • Walangari Karntawarra Jakamarra
  • Colin McCormack
Birth date
1961
Birth place
Alice Springs, NT
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • Sydney, NSW
Other Occupation
  • Dancer
  • Musician
  • Teacher
Active Period
  • 1991-
Languages
  • English
Training
  • Bachelor of Education. Awarded under name Colin McCormack, 1991 Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
  • Bachelor of Arts (Education). Awarded under name Colin McCormack, 1988 Deakin University, Vic.
  • Associate Diploma in Teaching. Awarded under name Colin McCormack, 1986 Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, NT
Is Indigenous
Yes
Heritage Country
  • Walpiri
  • Luritja
  • Arrernte
  • Yankuntjatjarra
  • Anmatjerre
  • Pintubi
  • Alyawarre
Dreaming
  • Milkyway
  • Emu
  • Kangaroo Mouse
  • Catapillar
  • Seven Sisters
  • Water
  • Euro
  • Fire
  • Rainbow
  • Witchetty Grub
  • Centipede
  • Honey Ant
  • Snake

Walangari Karntawarra Jakamarra, also known as Colin McCormack was born in Alice Springs in 1961.

He is of the Arrernte, Luritja, Walpiri, Yankuntjatjarra, Pintubi, Anmatjerre and Alyawarre peoples of the Central and Western Desert.

Walangari has held many executive positions and been the director of various Aboriginal councils. He chaired CAAMA (the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association), the first Aboriginal owned radio station and was a director of the first Aboriginal television station, Imparja. He is committed to improving the lot of his people and helping ensure that the voice of Aboriginal Australia is heard.

He has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees and an Associate Diploma of Aboriginal Education.

Walangari has designed and conducted his own very successful cross-cultural course at the Institute of Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs. The course was attended by many overseas and local professionals and students. Like the course, Walangari sees his paintings as a form of communication between cultures.

Walangari is multi talented. He is a gifted musician and dancer, with a wonderful stage presence but it was the legacy of his famous 'great-grandfather’, Albert Namatjira and the inspiration of his 'grandfather’ Clifford Possum that encouraged him to paint.

While his paintings tell the traditional stories of his people and feature the iconography of the 'Western Desert’, Walangari uses a fuller colour spectrum and unique effects to forge a striking path within modern Aboriginal Art. His paintings are widely acclaimed and he has exhibited extensively both in Australia and overseas.

In 1995 he painted the first prize for the inaugural Indigenous Surfing Competition sponsored by Billabong and Coca Cola and Walangari’s life and paintings have been featured in many TV programmes & publications, including the “International Artist” magazine.

The Australian Museum featured Walangari in the CD ROM that they produced as part of their Living Colour exhibition in March 2000 and in 2003 he was commissioned to paint a work for the Rugby World Cup Paris Exhibition. In the same year his work featured in the annual selling exhibition Art Paris in the Carrousel du Louvre.

The National Gallery of Australia has acquired one of his early works.

Writers:
Farr, Delia-Rose
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2008
grandchild of
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
1932
Artist (Painter), Artist (Carver)
associate of
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
1932
Artist (Painter), Artist (Carver)
grandchild of
Albert Namatjira
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Albert Namatjira
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
Witchetty Grub and Honey Ants Dreaming
Date
1992
URL
http://www.walangari.com.au
Collections
None
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Gondwana Gallery, NT
2007
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2007
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Galerie Le Cocon, Hamburg
Shanghai Art Fair
2006
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Shanghai, China
2005
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Outback Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2005
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Black Fella Dreaming, Sydney, NSW
2004
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, NT
Art Paris
2003
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France
L'Art Emmele
2003
Exhibition (exhibited at)
City Hall, Paris, France
2002
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Lotus Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Qld
2002
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Xzibit, McMahons Point, Sydney, NSW
2001
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Phat Cat, Invercargill, New Zealand
Australian Olympic Exhibition
2000
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Galeries Lafayette, Paris, France
1999
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Galerie Luc Queyrel, 34, rue Mazarine, Paris, France
1999
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Michael Carr Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1998
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Private Gallery, Brussels
"Heart of Australia"
1998
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Captains Club, Sydney Airport, NSW
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Elizabeth Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
World Heritage Collection, NSW State Parliament, Sydney, NSW
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Bruce Watling Gallery, Southport, Qld
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Father John Thierry School, Sydney, NSW
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre, Alice Springs, NT
1997
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Musee Espace, Beziers, France
1996
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Volkerkunde Museum, Vienna
1996
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Vienna Hilton, Vienna
1995
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Old Circus, Paris
1995
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Gondwana Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
1995
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Wagner Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1995
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Mountain Artery, Katoomba, NSW
Third Annual World Tattoo Convention
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Frankfurt, Germany
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Holdsworth Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Galley Savah, Sydney, NSW
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Wagner Gallery, Hong Kong
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Dreamtime Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
1993
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Parker Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Recognitions
Residency - Coomalie Cultural Centre, Batchelor Inst., NT
Award
Dymocks Sydney - Artist of the Month
Award
Residency - Museum of Sydney
Award
Residency - Saga Fjord, Cruise Ship
Award
Residency - Jagamarra Productions
Award
Residency - Global Colours, Sydney, NSW
Award
Citations: