Charles Inkamala
BORN
1968
LANGUAGE
ARRERNTE/WESTERN ARRERNTE
SKIN
JANGALA
BIRTH PLACE
HERMANNSBURG, NT
LIVES
MPARNTWE (ALICE SPRINGS), NT
I paint about my Country. Mount Sonder, Glen Helen, Hermannsburg. I paint mountains like Muntunda — that’s not far from Hermannsburg. My mother’s side is Papunya and my father’s side is Hermannsburg. Lots of family. I paint my dreaming’s. Big rock dreaming’s, snake dreaming’s. Come from that way — long way — right up to Alice Springs. Blue Mountain, Mount Sonder, that's my dreaming — big dreaming’s, that's my mother’s side and my grandmothers.”
— Charles Inkamala
Charles Jangala Inkamala was born in 1968. His mother’s Country is Papunya and his father’s County is Ntaria (Hermannsburg). Charles lives in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and began painting with Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists in 2O17. He paints significant cultural sites such as Mt Sonder and Glen Helen Gorge in stylised detail. Charles meditates on his home Country as he paints and imbues his work with strong knowledge of and connection to land. His intricate line work captures the multitude of directions of the rock layers in this ancient land and conjures strong impressions of the shaping of this country.
My sister paints. Before, I was working for the council. I was working not painting. I was working with cattle, with them horses. I wasn’t a cowboy, I was with the Hermannsburg team, working out there. I don’t know painting, I’m just learning. I’m just learning how to paint. I tell stories of my country through painting, and I like it. Connects me to family too.”
— Charles Inkamala
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