Paddy Sims Japaljarri

Paddy Japaljarri Sims, born around 1917 at Kunajarrayi (Mt Nicker), southwest of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, was a prominent Warlpiri artist and a respected community leader. Growing up in his country, he experienced a traditional lifestyle, wearing handmade hair string belts and working with mulga wood. Later, he contributed to gardening and farming projects near Yuendumu, cultivating vegetables and raising animals while continuing to hunt and gather bush tucker. He passed on his extensive knowledge of hunting, Dreaming, painting, and traditional practices to the younger generation. Paddy was deeply involved in artistic and cultural projects throughout his life. He collaborated with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an artist-run organisation, and became a key figure in the 1986 Yuendumu Doors project, which used art to share Dreaming stories and sparked a wave of creative activity in the region. In 1988, he was one of six Warlpiri men selected to represent Aboriginal art internationally, traveling to Paris for the "Magiciens de la Terre" exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou, where their ground painting received widespread acclaim. Paddy continued to create and exhibit artwork globally, often depicting Dreaming stories like the Milky Way, witchety grub/snake, fire, and stars, blending traditional designs with his unique modern style. Paddy also contributed significantly to education, teaching traditional skills, Dreaming, and art at the Yuendumu school and participating in cultural excursions. He collaborated with his wife, Bessie Nakamarra, herself an accomplished artist. Together, they enriched their community through art and cultural preservation. Bessie passed away in 2012, two years after Paddy's death in 2010. His legacy includes numerous exhibitions and contributions to Aboriginal art, such as the Yuendumu Doors etching project launched in 2001, which won the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for works on paper. Paddy's art remains celebrated for its vibrant storytelling and cultural significance, connecting the past with the present for future generations. © Adrian Newstead