Hector Burton | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1937 |
| Died | 27 February 2017 (aged 79–80) Ernabella,South Australia, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Years active | 2003 – present |
| Style | Western Desert art |
| Awards | 2014Red Ochre Award |
Hector Tjupuru Burton (1937 – 27 February 2017) was anAustralian Aboriginal artist. He is a leading artist fromAmaṯa, in north-westernSouth Australia. His work has been shown inexhibitions since 2003, in several cities in Australia and other countries. His first solo exhibition was held in 2004 inMelbourne.[1][2] Examples of his paintings are held in theNational Gallery of Victoria,[3] theArt Gallery of South Australia,[1] theArt Gallery of New South Wales,[4] andFlinders University.[2]
Burton was born in 1937.[5] He was born near what is nowPipalyatjara, in north-west South Australia. A member of thePitjantjatjara people, his childhood was spent living a traditional lifestyle inthe bush. When he was still a child, Burton and his parents came out of the desert and settled atErnabella mission.[1] As a young man, Burton worked as a ringer at the largecattle station calledCurtin Springs. He later moved toAmaṯa where he worked building dams, fences and cattle yards outside the town. He also later worked on a building project in Ernabella.[1]
Burton was a seniorcustodian of traditional Pitjantjatjara law (Tjukurpa or Dreaming). His father'sCountry, to the west ofIrrunytju, is closely associated with theAnumara Tjukurpa (Caterpillar Dreaming) and theMalu Tjukurpa (Red Kangaroo Dreaming). His mother is from Lake Wilson, about 170 km South-west fromYulara. These legends are the subjects of many of his paintings.[1]
Burton started painting in 2002.[6] He painted forTjala Arts, Amaṯa's community-based art company.[7] When he started, the company was called Minymaku Arts. Painting among Pitjantjatjara was originally done by women only (minymaku means "women's"). Men did not join the women until several years later, because they were afraid of revealing too muchspiritualknowledge (which inWestern Desert cultures is meant to be kept secret). Burton was one of the first men at Amaṯa to begin painting;[8] the company changed its name to Tjala Arts in 2004, after several other men joined him.
The art community at Amaṯa is still strongly conservative. Only the basics of traditional beliefs are described in their works. To keep the meanings of his paintings hidden, Burton usesdotting and other techniques to disguise sacred figures and ancient symbols. He is a strong supporter of maintaining strict forms of secrecy when it comes to art produced in his community.[8] He is now aboard member of Tjala Arts,[1] and often coordinates projects and exhibitions with the other artists.[9][10]
Burton's early paintings represent legends from his family's Dreaming. They also show strongChristian influences.[8] Burton was taught byPresbyterianmissionaries when he was growing up at Ernabella, and he mixed these beliefs with his family's Dreaming. When he was older, he wasordained as a minister, and is now a senior member of the Church on theAṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands.[1]
From the later part of 2011, Burton and several other men from Amaṯa led a project to change the subject of their artists' work. Instead of depicting sacred Dreaming knowledge, he and the other board members of Tjala Arts encouraged their artists to paint about other things (such as thelandscape orwildlife). Burton and the other leaders decided that the popularity ofWestern Desert art had resulted in people asking too many questions about their traditional designs and too much secret knowledge being revealed.[8][11] The centre's first exhibition under this project was held in March 2012, inAlice Springs.[10][12] The exhibition was calledPunu-Nguru (From the Trees) and its paintings depicted traditional designs of trees from the artists' home countries.[8]
Burton died on 27 February 2017 in Ernabella, aged 80.[13]
Burton had paintings chosen as finalists for theNational Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2011 and 2012.[14][15]
TheAustralia Council for the Arts arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. Since 1993, it has awarded aRed Ochre Award. It is presented to an outstanding Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander) artist for lifetime achievement.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[16] | himself | Red Ochre Award | Awarded |
Authority control databases: Artists |
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