- He was a famous Indigenous painter
- His medium was watercolours Born 28th July 1902
- Mother Arrernte woman called Ljukuta. Father Arrernte man named Namatjira
Inspiration
- Inspiration included Rex Battarbee and John Gardner. Rex a Australian, John unknown.
- In 1934 Rex and John held an exhibition (2 days) at the Hermannsberg. Albert's missionary close to the exhibition.
- About 300 Aborigines came to see the paintings. Albert was 32 when he got to see this inspiring exhibit.
Early Life
- Arrernte customs say that the boy's name would not be given to him until he had been initiated.
- This changed when Albert's parents became Christians in 1905.
- Both were renamed and remarried to Jonathan and Emelia.
- Son was baptised Albert
- Grew up in a mission
- Although in a mission and attended church and school, mum and dad still taught him Arrernte.
- Taught him his country, his language, palce in Arrernte society, who he could marry, how to survive on land and other things to live responsibly as an Arrernte man.
