Artist Muuki Taylor
Title Kulyakartu
Year 2021
Medium

Acrylic on linen

Dimensions 91 × 61 cm
Art Centre Martumili Artists →

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Muuki Taylor

Muuki Taylor was born around 1945 at Wayinkurangu, a soak located within the Percival Lakes region of the Great Sandy Desert. He is the eldest brother of fellow Martumili Artists, Wokka Taylor and Ngalangka Nola Taylor. In his youth Muuki’s family travelled hundreds of kilometres on foot, from the northern boundary of the Martu homelands through to Parrngurr, at the southern end of the Karlamily (Rudall River) region. They continued to live a pujiman lifestyle until being collected from Balfour Downs Station and taken to Jigalong Mission in the 1960s. They were one of the last Martu families to leave the desert. Today, Muuki is a highly respected cultural leader, and is often called upon as an authority by other artists. In addition to painting with Martumili Artists, Muuki works as a senior cultural advisor for the local Martu ranger group, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, where he provides invaluable advice and guidance.

Artist statement

My Country, Kulyakartu. I grew up there, from little boy to big boy grew up there.

Long ago we were living [a pujiman (traditional) lifestyle]. Our people took us about and grew us up. We stayed around in the north and grew up around Punmu… and along the lake [Nyayartakujarra, Lake Dora] to Karlamilyi. We would [hunt] animals, eat kalaru (salt bush, samphire) seeds, [witchetty] grubs, [and] minta (botanical gum). We would see aeroplanes, then we would run and keep quiet in the bushes. We didn’t know what it was. We had never seen a whiteman. We stayed there, where there were no whitemen. We didn’t see any motorcars. Nothing. Then Aborigines and whitemen got us and took us to Jigalong.