David Miller: Inarki

DAVID MILLER (Australian, b, circa 1951) Inarki, 2009 Silkscreen print Edition:  37/40 # (image) Acquired:2014 111215

Biography:

David Miller is a senior Pitjantjatjara man, living and working in the remote community settlement of Kalka in the Western Desert of northern South Australia

Born the traditional way, in the bush east of Kalka, South Australia, his youth was spent living and working on nearby farms and cattle stations – from Pukatja (Ernabella), to Curtin Springs and then, Orinda Community, and later Manguna Community in the Northern Territory.

Finally, he returned to the APY Lands[1] and settled in Kanpi. He commenced painting, initially under the guidance of the community arts facilitator, and progressed to becoming a member and director of the Tjungu Palya studios. In 2016, he resigned from Tjungu Palya and moved to Kalka Community and became the Community’s chairperson. In the same year, he joined Ninuku Arts and became the chair of Ninuku Arts.

His works are held in the collections of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the University of Canberra, and the National Museum of Australia. Miller's work has been exhibited at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

The artwork:

The subject artwork depicts Lake Inarki, and the dreamtime story of how the Kanyala travelled through the country and was hunted but took its revenge on the hunters for killing his uncle Wati Ngintaka (Perintie Lizard man).[2]

Bibliography

https://www.anangukuarts.com.au/people-1

accessed 30.3.2023

[1] Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara

[1] http://www.redotgallery.com/stockroom_inside.php?stockroom=17&artist=261

Accessed 30.3.2023