Raymond Walters Penangke / Ankerre Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) (RW50)

Raymond Walters Penangke was born in Alice Springs in November 1975.

His grandfather’s Country is Ngarleyekwerlang, Yuelumu (Mt Allan), and his grandmother’s Country is Alhalkerre Atnangkerre (Boundary Bore, Utopia). Both belong to the Anmatyerre language group. Within his extended family are speakers of the Arrernte, Western Aranda, Alywarre, Warlpiri and Kaytetye languages. Through his art, Raymond shares Anmatyerre culture and customary law—knowledge that has been passed down to him by his grandparents and other family members through ceremony and everyday life.

Raymond is proud of his connection to some of the most celebrated Anmatyerre artists, including Jack Cook Ngale, Kudditji Kngwarreye, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Minnie Pwerle, Maureen Hudson, Gloria Petyarre, Barbara Weir, Kathleen Petyarre and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. Like these renowned artists, he continues the world’s oldest living art tradition, using his work to celebrate and preserve Aboriginal culture.

Based in Alice Springs with his wife and children, Raymond has spent over forty years living and working in both remote and urban Aboriginal communities. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Public Health and Diplomas in Community Service Management and Community Welfare.

In addition to his painting practice, Raymond has held management and advisory roles across government and community sectors in areas such as child protection, health, disability, family support, sport and recreation, youth justice and local decision-making. He is also the Managing Director of Penangke Cultural Consultants, where he continues to inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through his leadership, professionalism and dedication to sharing cultural knowledge.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• 2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, City Library, Melbourne
• 2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Art Mark Gallery, Melbourne
• 2017 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Penangk Gallery, Geelong
• 2015 Raymond Walters Japanangka, The Gordan Tafe, Geelong
• 2015 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2014 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Geelong
• 2013 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2012 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Gasworks, Melbourne
• 2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Incinerator, Melbourne
• 2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Allen Arthur Law Firm, Melbourne
• 2010 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Katrina Manton Gallery, Melbourne
• 2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Kath Dickson Art Gallery, Toowoomba
• 2009 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2008 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2007 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara
• 2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 2024 Black + White, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2023 Emily & Others | Geniuses from Utopia, Art Mob, Hobart
• 2022 Colour Pop, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2022 Palya – a tribute to Steve Ariston, Art Mob, Hobart
• 2021 Mid-Winter Mofo, Art Mob, Hobart
• 2021 Parrtjima Australia – Festival of Light, Alice Springs
• 2020 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2019 Defining Tradition | the colourists, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2019 Defining Tradition: the first wave & its disciples, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2019 Small is Beautiful, Japingka Gallery, Perth

Awards and Recognition

• 2021 Speaker at Parrtjima Australia 2021- Festival of Light, Alice Springs
• Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara, NT: Raymond Walter’s paintings have been transferred onto wallpaper, which decorate the dining areas of the Emu Walk Apartments

Collections

• Deakin University Art Gallery, Melbourne

This painting depicts Ankerre Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming), focusing on the feathers of the Emu. Raymond is a custodian and spiritual ancestor for this Dreaming.

During the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime) hundreds of Ankerre (Emu) travelled through the Western Desert towards the East, moving across the land in great numbers creating and forcing the land to change and evolve. Their enormous size and great numbers enabled them to create such change in the land.

For many days they travelled through different language groups leaving different stories, interacting with different animal species and spiritual beings, leaving songs and stories which are still heard today. Many died from travelling so far, so long without water and food. Signs of the Emu’s that perished are found in some remote areas in the Western and Tanami Deserts.

Finally after travelling a great distance, the Emu’s decided to rest near a place called Ngarleyekwerlang. The Emu’s were hungry and heard from others about the sweet tasting Kutjuta (Bush Tomato). While the other Emu’s rested, one Emu went into the Ngarleyekwerlang grass plains and asked old Ahltora (Bush Turkey) for some Kutjuta. The Old Man Turkey said his Kutjuta was rotten and didn’t taste very nice and got cranky, telling the Emu to go away.

The Emu did not believe Old Man Turkey and returned to the others, waiting until late in the afternoon when the Old Man Turkey flew elsewhere. When the Emu returned he came across a trench in the ground where he found all this Kutjuta hidden. He tasted one and it was beautiful and sweet.

While he was feeding, the Old Man Turkey came back and found him. He wasn’t happy and a fight started which scattered all the Kutjuta everywhere and created the Ngarleyekwerlang landscape.

Sacred sites and special ceremonial places belong to this story in Ngarleyekwerlang. The trench, the large stones (Kutjuta) and the split stone (Kujuta) caused by the Ankerre have formed the landscape around my country, Ngarleyekwerlang.