BOB GIBSON TJUNGARRAYI

Bob Gibson Tjungarrayi was born at Papunya in 1974, before moving with his family to the small community of Tjukurla during the outstation movement of the 1980s This was a time when many Ngaanyatjarra people moved from government outposts near to Alice Springs back into the Western Desert to be closer to their ancestral homelands Bob's mother, Mary Gibson, is also a leading Tjarlirli artist whose Country is at Kulkurta, deep in the Western Desert, while his father’s country was near Patjarr on the edge of the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve.

Bob began painting with Tjarlirli Art in 2007, and quickly found a unique rhythm and approach to mark-making; his style is characterised by bold colours and an inimitable freedom of movement, expressing ancient stories with contemporary flair Bob is a vibrant character who is well loved within his community and provides support to many family members He is a keen Sydney Swans supporter and loves listening to all music, especially the local bush bands

These works are about two snakes and two men who travelled north to Karrkurinkitja As the party travelled , some strangers came up behind them and the snakes fled. Then Kurningka (boss of the Tingari men) went looking The clouds were coming towards them The snakes were travelling fast and the water was rising and the lady snake went in the ant's hole but the other snake was left outside Kurningka was saying, ‘water is coming closer’ but the other snake was too big for the hole The Kurningka cut the snake and a lot of fat came out

Bob is distinguished by the freedom of his composition and his stylistic application of colour , which happens at a frenetic and decisive pace He carves up the canvas , creating wild shapes in an evocative and highly contemporary reinterpretation of country

Bob enjoys telling the stories from his fathers country around Patjarr and his mother's country Kulkurta The free brush strokes and loose lines evident in these canvases dance around each other displaying the distinctive and compelling liveliness of his work