Wenten Rubuntja

Wenten Rubuntja

• Born: c. 1926
• Deceased: 2005
• Language Group: Arrernte (Aranda)
• Country: Central Desert, Northern Territory
• Medium: Watercolour on Board and Acrylic on Canvas
• Wenten Rubuntja is of the Arrente language group, of Arrernte and Anmatyere descent. He spent a great deal of his youth travelling the central region of Australia as a stockman, during this time he worked in many different regions doing many different kinds of work. Wenten is over sixty years old, though it is difficult to known exactly when he was born, he may even be closer to seventy years of age.As a senior Arrente Law man and custodian he was a pioneer of the Land Rights movement and served as Chairman of the Central Land Council, Yeperenye School, and as a member of the Sacred Sites Authority.A well-recognised artist in both acrylic on canvas and watercolours, his work is represented in many major collections.During the Pope's visit to Australia in 1987, he was presented with one of Wenten's paintings. This now hangs in the Catholic Church in Hartley Street Alice Springs. A large stained glass window of one of his paintings is a significant feature of the Araluen Art Centre in Alice Springs, and a large acrylic canvas of Caterpillar Dreaming by Wenten hangs in the Prime Minister's Office in Parliament house.Wenten was a founding member of The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and this work regularily took him interstate to meet with government heads and other council members.One of Wenten's major dreamings is associated with caterpillars. Many of the places in and around Alice Springs were formed by three different caterpillars, one of these caterpillars is the Yeperenye. Mparntwe which is the Arrernte name for Alice Springs was one of the sites significant in the Yeperenye's travels. Wenton is the Senior Custodian of the Caterpillar Dreaming in the Alice Springs region.As a senior Arrente man for the Alice Springs region he has become greatly involved in the politics of maintaining sacred sites here and in Aboriginal politics nationally.He is a major spokesman for the Arrente people and his work as an artist must often take second place to his political role within the community however when he finds time to paint his work highly sort after.
• Subjects: Landscape - Hermannsburg School, 14 Mile Gorge, Untitled Landscape

Wenten Rubuntja was born near Hay's Creek, the son of Bob Rubuntja. He began painting in the Hermannsburg School landscape style before transitioning to dot work style paintings with acrylics. Wenten was a key figure in the land rights movement in Central Australia during the mid-1970s and played a significant role as an Aboriginal statesman in his hometown of Alice Springs.

He was highly respected for his extensive traditional knowledge and his unique skills as a negotiator. Known for his humour and wisdom, Wenten skillfully engaged with both traditional and contemporary worlds.

Early Life and Career: Wenten Rubuntja AM (1923–2005) was an Arrernte law man who worked in various pastoral jobs and was known as a sharp-dressing, daring cowboy and jockey at the Hermannsburg Races. His trajectory changed when he saw the great artist Albert Namatjira at work, leading him to pursue painting full-time. He remarked, "Me been forget about stock work – I been sit down with the painting now, till I get to now. For reconciliation and all the organisations, Land Council, Congress, Legal Aid and all that one."

Advocacy and Leadership: In 1975, Charles Perkins and Rubuntja became chair and deputy chair, respectively, of the new Central Aboriginal Land Council. Rubuntja later served as its chair, and in 1988, he and Yunupingu AM presented Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the Barunga Statement, calling for a treaty.

Art and Legacy: Wenten's paintings, created in both 'Namatjira style' and Papunya dot style depending on their themes, are held in the National Gallery of Australia, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, and many other collections. His life story is detailed in the co-written autobiographical history "The Town Grew Up Dancing: The Life and Art of Wenten Rubuntja" (2002).

Wenten Rubuntja AM was an artist, historian, storyteller, and intermediary. His contributions to the community and the preservation of cultural heritage are deeply valued.

References:

• The National Portrait Gallery - Photographer: Greg Weight
• Hardy, J., Megaw, JVS. & Megaw, MR. (1992) The Heritage of Namatjira - The Watercolourists of Central Australia, William Heinemann, Australia