Butcher Cherel Janangoo (1920-2009)
Language Group: Gooniyandi
Region: Fitzroy / West Kimberley
Butcher Cherel Janangoo was born around 1920 at Jalnaganjoowa. This is near the original
homestead on one of the longest established cattle stations in the Kimberley, Fossil Downs.
His mother was a Kija woman and his father was Gooniyandi. He spoke both languages as well as Walmajarri and also Bunuba. Both of his parents worked on the station in and around the homestead and he recalled being taken out bush for walkabout at law time. With the two of them working on the station, it follows that Butcher also spent most of his working life on Fossil Downs. As a stockman he worked cattle, droving from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby and Broome. This time was hard as he remembered, "real hard".
He began painting relatively late in life as did many of his peers. His paintings document natural phenomena and are a metaphorical reference to both his country, Imanara, and his life experiences. As he stated, "with my eyes, my heart and with my brain I am thinking. When I go to sleep at night time, I might talk to myself ' ah, I might do (paint) that one tomorrow', not dreaming; I think what to do next."
He is well represented nationally and in many private collections around the world. He is considered to be one of Australia's leading contemporary artists. Butcher was a key elder of the Gooniyandi language group and was instrumental in the retention of law and ceremony at Muludja Community. He saw Aboriginal law and language as fundamentally important and felt uneasy that young people today do not have this tradition to refer to as they have not been educated as he was.
Collections
National Gallery of Victoria
Holmes A Court Collection
Artbank, Sydney
University of WA
Aboriginal Affairs Department
Kerry Stokes Collection
Art Gallery Of WA
Curtin University WA
The Parliament House Collection
Region: Fitzroy / West Kimberley
Butcher Cherel Janangoo was born around 1920 at Jalnaganjoowa. This is near the original
homestead on one of the longest established cattle stations in the Kimberley, Fossil Downs.
His mother was a Kija woman and his father was Gooniyandi. He spoke both languages as well as Walmajarri and also Bunuba. Both of his parents worked on the station in and around the homestead and he recalled being taken out bush for walkabout at law time. With the two of them working on the station, it follows that Butcher also spent most of his working life on Fossil Downs. As a stockman he worked cattle, droving from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby and Broome. This time was hard as he remembered, "real hard".
He began painting relatively late in life as did many of his peers. His paintings document natural phenomena and are a metaphorical reference to both his country, Imanara, and his life experiences. As he stated, "with my eyes, my heart and with my brain I am thinking. When I go to sleep at night time, I might talk to myself ' ah, I might do (paint) that one tomorrow', not dreaming; I think what to do next."
He is well represented nationally and in many private collections around the world. He is considered to be one of Australia's leading contemporary artists. Butcher was a key elder of the Gooniyandi language group and was instrumental in the retention of law and ceremony at Muludja Community. He saw Aboriginal law and language as fundamentally important and felt uneasy that young people today do not have this tradition to refer to as they have not been educated as he was.
Collections
National Gallery of Victoria
Holmes A Court Collection
Artbank, Sydney
University of WA
Aboriginal Affairs Department
Kerry Stokes Collection
Art Gallery Of WA
Curtin University WA
The Parliament House Collection
Butcher Cherel Janangoo (1920-2009)
50 x 65.5 cm (framed)
$5000
Butcher Cherel Janangoo (1920-2009)
50 x 65.5 cm (framed)
$5000