JIMMY DONEGAN, Pukara Rock Hole, 2018-2020

JIMMY DONEGAN Ngaanatjarra language, c.1939 - 2022 Pukara Rock Hole, 2018-2020 acrylic on canvas 101 x 76 cm bears inscription verso: Jimmy Donegan, Pukara, #57-20, Papulankutja Artists, 018-19, 17-35 PROVENANCE Papulankutja Artists, Western Australia, Cat No. 57-20 The Collection of Barbara Hansen, Victoria Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Papulankutja Artists Jimmy Donegan was a highly respected senior Pitjantjatjara artist and cultural leader of the Western Desert, whose paintings reflect his profound knowledge of Country and Tjukurrpa (Dreaming). Born near Yanpan in Western Australia, Donegan spent much of his life travelling across the desert regions of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. He began painting later in life and became known for his vibrant, intricately detailed compositions, receiving national recognition when he won the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2010. This painting depicts Pukara Rock Hole, a significant site in the Western Desert where Desert Heath Myrtle grows in abundance. Rich in ancestral stories, Pukara is associated with the journeys of powerful beings who travelled vast distances across Country during the Tjukurrpa. Among these are the ancestral Snake Men, whose travels extended from as far west as Perth. Donegan recounts the story of a father and son who eventually arrived at Pukara, where they remained and continue to reside in the landscape today. Through intricate layers of colour, pattern and symbolism, Donegan depicts the surrounding landscape, its seasonal vegetation and the clay and salt pans of significance to Yarnangu people. Embedded within the composition are stories of conflict, injury and healing, including disputes between the ancestral Snake Men and those seeking access to Pukara's precious water and resources. Completed over more than two years, the painting was developed gradually during Donegan's visits to Papulankutja (Blackstone) from Kalka, South Australia. The work reflects his profound knowledge of Country, bringing together its physical features and the enduring ancestral narratives embedded within the landscape. © JIMMY DONEGAN / Copyright Agency, 2026

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