Erlikilyika
Erlikilyika | |
---|---|
Born | c.1865 Akeltye (McKenzie's Waterhole), Northern Territory, Australia[1] |
Died | c.1930–1945[1] |
Nationality | Of the Arrernte people |
Known for | Sketches, sculpture, anthropology, translation |
Spouse | Utnirarenaka Perrurle[1] |
Erlikilyika (c.1865 – c.1930), known to Europeans by the name Jim Kite or Jim Kyte or Jim Kite Penangke, was an
Life
Early life
Although it is not known for certain, Erlikilyika was probably born close to his ancestral home of Akeltye (or Okilcha), later known as McKenzie's Waterhole, on the Coglin Creek,
Artist and anthropologist
His career as an artist started with carving things like local animals and pipe stems from white soapstone (steatite) and selling these carvings to passing travellers.[7] He used simple tools in all of his carving work: penknife, wire and a shearing blade.[4]
Erlikilyika met Frank Gillen in 1875,[1] and subsequently travelled with him and Walter Baldwin Spencer on their 1901–1902 cross-continental anthropological expedition, acting as guide, interpreter (as the sole speaker of Kaytetye on the expedition) and virtual research assistant. He was recommended for this role by the Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station station master PM Byrne, who told them he was a “first class black boy”; this was despite the fact that Erlikilyika was in his 30s at this time.[4]
Erlikilyika showed remarkable artistic talent, he made numerous sketches on the trip, and also
Gillen recorded a small number of verses of "sacred" songs, associated with ancestral beings. One of these verses was introduced by Spencer as the "relating to the tradition of the Great Snake of Okilcha [Akeltye]", and this verse featured the voice of Erlikilyika. Spencer wrote that the song was the "property" of Jim, "a snake-man named Erli-killi-kurra". The first
Archaeologist John Mulvaney showed that Erlikilyika was not acknowledged for the role he played as a contributor to Spencer and Gillen's noted anthropological work, The Native Tribes of Central Australia.[8]
Recognition
His carvings were first documented in March 1910, when examples were displayed in Adelaide.[8] In 1913, accompanied by Telegraph Master and enthusiastic supporter Harry O. Kearnan,[6] Erlikilyika travelled to Adelaide, where his art was exhibited at the Selborne Hotel[1] in Pirie Street.[9] It was well-received in the press,[4][7] with the artist being praised as a "black genius" in one article in The Register. The article goes on to describe some of the carvings in detail – including a marsupial rat, snakes, birds – and intricate paintings on boomerangs. The reporter includes the lively explanations given by the artist when interviewed, opines that the work surely should be acquired by the national collection and cites Erlikilyika's age as 40[10] (and also mentions that he visited Sydney when he was 15).[11] This was probably the first solo exhibition of an Aboriginal artist in Australia.[1] Most likely during this visit, Erlikilyika made 24 botanical drawings, annotated with both their Arrernte and scientific names, which were acquired by the South Australian Museum.[4]
He was the first Central Australian artist to be nationally recognised for his artistic talent, in particular his carvings of animals in soft stone,[12] illustrations and sculptures. The geologist, anthropologist, medical doctor and politician Herbert Basedow bought many of Erlikilyika's works, which are now in the National Museum of Australia,[4] and also befriended Erlikilyika, who helped him with the interpretation of ceremonies.[1]
Later life
There is no record of his date of death, the telegraph station at Charlotte Waters having fallen into disuse and the Central Australia Railway having bypassed the location. The last anecdotal evidence of his life was in 1923; the 1926 mention in the Daily Telegraph says he was "old". His date of death has been cited as late as 1945,[1] but when his brother, Jack Kite, was involved in ceremonies in 1935, there is no mention of "Jim".[4]
His wife, Utnirarenaka Perrurle, was from the Arltunga area. There is no record of any children.[1]
Works in galleries
Erlikilyika's works are now valuable collectors' items.[13] The South Australian Museum holds the biggest collection of Erlikilyika carvings. Photographs and other items from his work with Gillen and Spencer are in collections held by Museums Victoria, and some of his work is on display at the Old Timer's Traeger Museum in Alice Springs.[7][13] Of Basedow's collection of works, the sketchbook is held in the South Australian Museum Archives and the remainder are held in the National Museum of Australia.[14] Some of Erlikilyika's work is also held in the Australian Museum in Sydney.[8]
Name
The artist was known to Europeans by the name Jim Kite, Jim Kyte, or Jim Kite Penangke.[15]
According to
The Australian Dictionary of Biography suggests that as erlia signified emu, his totemic name may relate to an emu ritual area near Charlotte Waters at Adnyultultera waterhole.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Jim Kite Alyelkelhayeka Penangke, Artist (circa 1860 – circa 1945)". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ . Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ Note: Map shows location of Akeltye very close to Charlotte Waters.
- ^ OCLC 70677943.
- ^ "Aboriginal Biographical Index entry for Erlikilyika". AIATSIS. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ a b c Spencer, Walter Baldwin (1901–1902). Jason Gibson; Heather Milton (eds.). "Walter Baldwin Spencer's Diary from the Spencer and Gillen Expedition, 1901–1902". ResearchGate. p. 15, footnote 35.
- ^ a b c d Kelham, Megg (November 2010). "A Museum in Finke: An Aputula Heritage Project" (PDF). Territory Stories. pp. 1–97. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9781743054994.
- ^ Roberts, Mick (9 November 2017). "Selborne Hotel, Adelaide". Time Gents. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ This would make his year of birth 1873?
- The Register. Vol. LXXVIII, no. 20, 806. South Australia. 18 July 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 17 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ISBN 9780522859546. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ hdl:10070/664929.
- ^ "Series AA 108/01: 'Series of drawings of trees (with native names) by "Jimmy" a native of Alice Springs, C. A.'". South Australian Museum. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Kite, Jim". Spencer & Gillen. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
Further reading
Online
- Carment, David; et al., eds. (2008). "Erlikilyika" (PDF). Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography (Revised ed.). Charles Darwin University. p. 171 – via Territory Stories.
- "Erlikilyika (Jim Kite)". National Museum of Australia. – art by Erlikilyika held in the NMA
- "Erlikilyika (1865–1930)", Trove, 2009 – links to all resources on Trove
Hardcopy
- ISBN 978-1-74076-002-7
- MacFarlane, Ingereth (2017). "Erlikilyika Jimmy Kite". In Brock, Peggy; Gara, Tom (eds.). Colonialism and its aftermath: A history of Aboriginal South Australia. Wakefield. pp. 321–324. ISBN 9781743054994.
- ISBN 978-0-7148-3752-9
- Sayers, Andrew; Cooper, Carol; National Gallery of Australia (1996), Aboriginal artists of the nineteenth century (Paperback ed.), Oxford University Press in association with the National Gallery of Australia, ISBN 978-0-19-553995-0