Unspoken Memories: A Journey Through Yalpirakinu

Adrian Jangala Robertson is a proud Warlpiri man from the Central Western Desert region. Growing up in Papunya, Robertson witnessed the Western Desert painting movement’s inception. Adrian has since enjoyed strong artistic influences throughout his life including his father’s brother, the late Darby Ross Jampijinpa and his mother, the late Eunice Napangardi. Since 2002 Adria nhas painted with the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists and become a crucial member of the Alice Springs art community.

Unspoken Memories: A Journey Through Yalpirakinu showcases a broad range of recent artworks by Robertson. Adrian paints using a restricted palette, deliberately and thoughtfully pushing, and pulling an image to its completion. Through painting Adrian connects his memories of family and his mother’s country, Yalpirakinu. His distinctive style of brushwork that is loaded with energy, portrays his family and the desert mountains, ridges, and trees, capturing his deep connections and memories of family and country.

An accomplished artist, Adrian has exhibited nationally and internationally. He won the NATSIAA General Painting Award (2020), the Artist of the Year, Mparntwe NAIDOC awards (2021), and The Alice Prize, Mparntwe National Contemporary Art Award (2022). In 2022 he was a finalist in the Hadley Art Prize and Sulman Prize. This year, Adrian is a finalist in the Sulman, Archibald and Wynne, one of only two artists who got accepted in all three prizes. In June this year, Adrian also had his first international, solo exhibition at the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery in London.

Exhibition Catalogue (PDF)