Andrew Japaljarri Spencer

  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Painter)
Contemporary Aboriginal artist, whose work in the 1980s pioneered the use of traditional iconography of the Western Desert to convey important and current messages related to Aboriginal health.
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A Warlpiri speaker, originally from Yuendumu, Andrew moved into Alice Springs with his family and in the 1980s worked with HALT (Healthy Aboriginal Lifestyle Team). As part of this work, he produced a series of posters dealing with current issues and problems in Aboriginal communities such as family breakdowns, petrol-sniffing, alcohol abuse and AIDS, but using the traditional iconography of Western Desert painting to spell out his message. The success of this innovation in disseminating information to Aboriginal people led to its adoption by others involved in health and community services – and also by other artists (e.g. the 'history paintings’ of Malya Teamay of the Mutitjulu community at Uluru).

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011

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