“Art is also a type of memory theatre for Pepai Jangala Carroll. Although based for decades in Pukatja...Carroll’s custodial home country is his father’s country near Kintore in the Northern Territory. Carrying the recurring title of Walungurru, in this naming, like the act of painting and working in clay, is recuperative for Carroll, enabling him to call up Luritja/Pintupi country. ”
Pepai was born in Haasts Bluff, and later moved to Papunya when the new settlement was created there. He went to school in Papunya before moving to Areyonga, where he finished school. He then travelled on horses with his family to Eagle Bore, which is a homeland just north of Ernabella, and he's been living in Ernabella ever since.
Pepai's first work was building fences around the Ernabella station. He also worked in the community office and was the community Chairperson. He became a warden when he was still a young fella, and was later appointed the Director of Nganampa Health, the regional health body. He was then appointed the Community Constable, a position he held until 2006 when illness forced him to retire.
In 2009 Pepai began to paint at Ernabella Arts, and in 2011 he started making ceramics. His distinct style in depicting his father's country has seen his work selected as a finalist in the Indigenous Ceramics Art Award (2014). Pepai's ceramics and paintings have been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Araluen Collection and ArtBank. Annually since 2011 Pepai has led the Watiku (men's) ceramics workshop in the Ernabella ceramics studio.
These workshops and Pepai's involvement are responsible for bringing the next generation of men into the art centre. In 2015 he had his first solo exhibition, in Melbourne and was also included in the Desert Salon exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia as part of the Tarnanthi Festival. In early 2016 Pepai was included in Magic Object: Adelaide Biennal of Contemporary Australian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia. He has also been shortlisted for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.
A recent project titled 'Mark and Memory' saw Papai return to his fathers county. This 2017 trip was profound for the artist. Many of Pepai’s artworks were inspired by and titled after these sites that are meaningful for him.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2019 Anangu Happily Sitting and Working Together, Short St Gallery, Broome WA
2018 Nganampa Ngura Kurnunjara the Place of your Spirit - Olsen Gallery, Sydney NSW
2018 Sydney Contemporary - Sabbia Gallery at Carriageworks
2018 Desert Mob 2018 - Araluen Art Centre
2018 Weapons for the Soldier - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery
2018 Art from the APY Art Centre Collective, Melbourne VIC
2018 Something Blue - Sabbia Gallery 2017 Kurunitja – Spirited, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2017 Keeping the Fire Alive: New Paintings and Ceramics by the Artists of Ernabella Arts - Harvey Arts, USA
2017 NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin, NT
2017 Mark and Memory - TARNANTHI: Festival of contemporary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide SA
2016 SALUTE XII - Sabbia Gallery, Paddington NSW
2016 Nganampa Kililpil: Our Stars - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, NSW
COLLECTIONS
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of South Australia
Artbank, Australia
Charles Darwin University
National Gallery of Victoria
Araluen Arts Centre, NT
Parliament House Collection, Canberra
AWARDS
2018 Finalist, NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin, NT
2017 Finalist, NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin, NT
2016 Finalist, NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin, NT
2017, Australia Council for the Arts, Skills and Arts Development Grant
2015 Australia Council for the Arts, Skills and Arts Development Grant
2014 Finalist, Indigenous Ceramic Art Award