William Jungala King

William Jungala King was born in Katherine in 1966, in the Northern Territory of Australia on the 12th of August 1966. William is from the Gurindji and Wanyi tribes and his skin name is Jungala. William spent most of his childhood with his father and uncles, who as members of the Gurindji tribe, taught and mentored William. His work is greatly influenced by his grandfather’s teaching and he successfully intermingles his own unique style and images with other art styles taken from many locations and experiences. In 1999 he was selected among other prominent Aboriginal artists to exhibit in “The Gallery of Greater Victoria” in British Columbia. Canada as part of the Commonwealth Games. William passed away on December 2 2007.

Biography by William Jungala King:
This was to be an biography of sorts but who I am becoming as a person is someone who does not live in the past. In truth, I feel uncomfortable looking back and articulating my history and so I remain focused on the present. As an artist I think passion is articulated only in living, which is happening now.

I have been privileged to have had people in my life who define my love of life and my many experiences contribute to who I am today. I am today. In observing my own journey I see the evolution from a instinctive boy of little complexity to a man constantly looking for the untimate formula for the human condition.

Today I say that the sun never sets in my world. I love my life, my time here on earth and my ultimate goal is to savour my personal frontier day to day.

I have learnt it is more enjoyable to exist and live in a state of acceptance rather then to constantly be asking why? As this world get more complex, as do our lives, I think we are more grounded in living simply. I love nature, I celebrate my masculinity to the core and I love and humour women. I have been known to jokingly say, “Women are evidence that God is a better artist than I”.

Every aspect of what I confront on a day to day basis excites me. Interestingly much of my perspective is choice activated when confronted with issues or circumstances that may trigger negative emotion; I chose to focus on something that makes me happy. Such as my interactions with other people and nature which dances and comforts my soul.

I demand evolution of myself and to me that is letting all my senses taste my environment completely, no necessarily intellectually breaking it down.

I hope my art captures the intensity in which I see my beautiful world.

WILLIAM KING