|
Benny Pinabuka
Benny was
born near Glen Helen Resort, 140km out of Alice Springs, whilst his
family was on walkabout. He was abandoned by his father and
his two sisters after his mother died during childbirth.
Benny was
found days laterm by men who were hunting in the area. They
noticed a crow calling out and looked up into a tree and found
benny at the foot of the tree. He was taken back to
Hermannsburg by the hunting party, who gave him to a surrogate
family.
Benny was
about 12 years old when his father and two sisters were brought
into the community where Benny was living. They did not know
that the small baby they had left in the bush was now apart of this
community. Benny's surrogate family invited his father to
'come see your son'. His father could not believe his son had
survived and was overwhelmed by grief and guilt. With his
fathers permission, the family was able to continue raising
Benny.
A move
later in life to Haasts Bluff Papunya, brought Benny to the place
where he met and married Elsie Gorey. Later to become the
mother of his son.
Mt Liebig
is the place Benny Pinabuka and Elsie Gorey chose as home. A
community that lays 300km west of Alice Springs near Haasts Bluff.
As an elder of the community Benny had a strong sense of
culture and was actively involved in men's business. He later
became a delegate for the central land council and was also
president of Amundurrngu Outstation.
Benny's
mother's country is Illpilly, 140km west of Mt Liebieg.
Benny's father came from the Kings Canyon area.
Illpilly
is the main theme in Benny's art. Illpilly Story depicts the
tale of two young girls who went walking in the area but never
returned. Their families waited and waited but decided to
look for the girls. Unfortunately their families perished
after months of searching and a lack of water.
As Benny
painted he often said "You have to leave the gate open". You
will see this in the pieces that depict Illpilly story. When
asked 'why?' Benny would reply "Don't ask!"
Benny's
death on the 15th July 2002 deeply saddened the community of Mt
Liebig, especially his wife Elsie Grey. She now feels after
'Sorry time', that it is appropriate to show Benny's work to
all.
 |
|
77-0002
Illpilly Story, 1999
36 x 101.5cm
Acrylic on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
 |
|
77-0008
Illpilly Story, 1999
60.5 x 102cm
Acrylic on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
 |
|
77-027
Illpilly
Story, 1999
109 x
212cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0926
Illpilly
Story, 1999
61 x
89.5cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0921
Illpilly
Story, 1999
91 x
151.5cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0924
Travelling to Illpilly
around rock holes, 2000
35.5 x
90.5cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0929
Mother and Fathers
dreaming together, 2000
71 x
202.5cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0934
Illpilly
Story, 2000
50 x
100cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0918
Emu
Dreaming, 2000
51 x
101cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0191
Illpilly
Story, 2002
46 x
105cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0193
Illpilly
Story, 2002
60 x
151cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0931
Illpilly
Story, 2002
51 x
101cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0923
Emu
Dreaming, 2001
45 x
45.1cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
77-0925
Emu
Dreaming, 2001
46 x
61cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-006
Rock
Holes around Illpilly, 1998
45 x
61.5cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
77-0192
Rock holes
around Illpilly, 1998
28 x
40cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-003
Women's dreaming with rock holes at Illpilly, 1998
45.5 x 61cm
Acrylic on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0928
Moving and hunting between rock holes, 1997
51 x 101cm
Acrylic on Belgian Linen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0004
Nulla
Nulla, 1997
35 x
112cm
Acrylic
on Belgian Linen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
77-0005
Moving and hunting between rock holes, 1997
36 x 110cm
Acrylic on Belgian Linen
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
