Aboriginal Art 2010
SCOTT LIVESEY GALLERIES 1
1
Makinti Napanangka
(born circa 1930)
Untitled, 2009 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number MN0901057 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 91 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Queensland Art Gallery Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs Macquarie Bank Collection
This painting depicts designs associated with the site of Lupulnga, a rockhole situated south of the Kintore Community. The Peewee (small bird) Dreaming is associated with this site, as well as the Kungka Kutjarra or Two Travelling Women Dreaming. During ancestral times a group of women visited this site holding ceremonies associated with the area, before continuing their travels north to Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald), and later the Kintore area. The lines in the painting represent spun hair-string which is used in the making of nyimparra (hair-belts), which are worn by both men and women during ceremonies. 2
3
2
Nyilyari Tjapangati
(born circa 1965)
Untitled, 2009 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number NT0909127 Painted at Alice Springs Acrylic on Belgian linen 107 x 91 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Australia Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs
This painting depicts designs associated with the salt lake site of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). In ancestral times a large group of Tingari Men visited this site on their travels towards the east. The men had previously visited the rockhole site of Winparku (Mt. Webb) further south. The concentric squares in this painting depict the soakage waters near Winparku, while the jagged lines represent the path of the Tingari men as they travelled towards Wilkinkarra. This design is also consistent with those used during rain making ceremonies. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of ancestral beings of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and were accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These ancestral stories form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. 4
5
3
Fred Tjakamarra
(1926 – 2006)
Lappi Lappi, 2003 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 49/03 Acrylic on Belgian linen 80 x 80 cm
Provenance Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Represented Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica, USA Laverty Collection University of Virginia, USA Kluge Ruhe Collection, USA John Curtin Art Collection, Curtin University
Exhibited Balgo 4-04: New Paintings from the Kutjungka Region, Warlayirti Art Centre, Balgo Hills, April 2004, catalogue number 10
Fred has painted some of his country, which is south of Balgo, and north of Wilkinkarra (Lake MacKay), in the Great Sandy Desert and known as Lappi Lappi. The painting depicts a series of warrarnpa (claypans). The strong white lines show rivers in flood as the wet season begins. 6
7
4
George Tjungurrayi
(born circa 1943)
Untitled, 2008 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number GT0806127 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 183 x 153 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Supreme Court of the Northern Territory The Holmes à Court Collection Groninger Museum, The Netherlands University of Virginia, USA Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Oceanie, Paris The design in this painting depicts the claypan site of Kirrimalunya, north of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). In ancestral times two Ngangkari (Aboriginal healers) were camped at this site. The two were only young boys but often this healing power is given to Ngangkaris by the time they are young teenagers. This ancestral story forms part of the Tingari Cycle. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of ancestral beings of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and were accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These ancestral stories form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. . 8
9
5
Johnny Yungut Tjupurrula
(born circa 1930)
Untitled, 2001 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number JY0107042 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 153 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
This painting depicts designs associated with the travels of a large group of Tingari Men from Kiwirrkura to Tarkul and then north to Lake Mackay. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari Men were usually followed by Tingari Women and accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. 10
11
6
Sam Tjampitjin
(circa 1930 - 2007)
Untitled, 1994 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 483/94 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 80 cm
Provenance Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Represented Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands The Holmes aĚ Court Collection Artbank
12
13
7
Wintjiya Napaltjarri
(born circa 1930)
Untitled, 2010 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number WN1002078 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented Art Gallery of New South Wales Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
This painting depicts designs associated with the soakage site of Watanuma, north-west of the Kintore Community. A group of ancestral women once gathered at Watanuma to perform the dances and sing the songs associated with the area. The women also spun hair-string for making nyimparra (hair-string skirts), which are worn by both men and women during ceremonies. The nyimparra in this painting are depicted by the comb like shape. The small circles in the painting depict the burrowed holes of flying ants, also known as watanuma. Upon completion of these ceremonies the women continued their travels to the rockhole site of Malparingya and then continued east to Pinari, also north-east of Kintore. As they travelled the women gathered large quantities of the edible fruit known as pura (also known in Pintupi as pintalypa), or bush tomato, from the small shrub Solanum chippendalei. The fruit is the size of a small apricot and, after the seeds have been removed, can be stored for long periods by halving the fruit and skewering them onto a stick. 14
15
8
Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri
(born circa 1958)
Tingari Men at Murmur, 2009 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number WT0904115 Painted at Kiwirrkura Acrylic on Belgian linen 183 x 153 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales The Kelton Foundation Collection, Santa Monica, USA Musée des Arts d’Afrique et d’Oceanie, Paris
Exhibited Nganana, Tjungurrayi, Tjukurrpa and Nintintjakitja: We Are Here Sharing Our Dreaming, 12 – 26 September 2009, 80 Washington Square, New York, catalogue number 4 This painting depicts designs associated with the large claypan site of Murmur, south of Lake Mackay. In mythological times a large group of Tingari men travelled through this site after passing by the rockhole at Tarkul. They later continued on to Lake Mackay, and later east to Pinari, north-west of Kintore. This story forms part of the Tingari cycle. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of ancestral beings of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and were accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These ancestral stories form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. 16
17
9
10
Theresa Nowee Napaltjarri
(born 1971)
Puntujalpa, 2006 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 766/06 Nynmi, 2004 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 948/04 Acrylic on canvas 100 x 50 cm (each)
Provenance Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Represented Laverty Collection
Theresa has painted her father’s country, which is located around Puntujalpa (Jupiter Well) near the community of Kiwirrkura. The painting depicts the different features of the country including the tali (sandhills), spinifex and desert trees as well as Pura bush tomatoes and Kantijilyi (raisins). The central circle is a warniri (rockhole). Theresa has depicted the country of her father and grandfather named Nynmi. This country is south of Balgo in the Gibson Desert. The main feature of the painting is the banga banga tree (desert oak) that grows in the area. Theresa’s grandfather would climb these trees to collect the sweet wanarra (bush honey) from the tree while the dotting represents the leaves of the trees as well as the nearby grass. 18
19
11
Naata Nungurrayi
(born circa 1932)
Untitled, 2001 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number NN0110008 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 91 x 61 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
This painting depicts designs associated with the rockhole and soakage water site of Marrapinti, to the west of the Pollock Hills in Western Australia. A large group of senior women camped at this rockhole making the nose-bones which are worn through a hole in the nose-web. These nose-bones were originally worn by both men and women but are now only worn by the older generation on ceremonial occasions. 20
21
12
Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi
(circa 1928-1998)
Untitled, 1986 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY860390 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Galley of Australia National Gallery of Victoria South Australian Museum Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Art Gallery of Western Australia National Museum of Australia Queensland Art Gallery The Kelton Foundation Laverty Collection
In mythological times the wayuta (Possum) Dreaming travelled to the site of Wapintja, south-west of the Kintore Community. This site is also associated with the travels of the Tingari Men therefore events associated with the site are of a secret nature. Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming, who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post-initiate youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. 22
23
13
Ronnie Tjampitjinpa
(born circa 1943)
Untiled, 2010 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number RT1001019 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 183 x 153 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Australia National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Queensland Art Gallery The Holmes à Court Collection Groninger Museum, The Netherlands Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Oceanie, Paris This painting depicts designs associated with the rockhole site of Umari, east of Mt. Webb in Western Australia. In mythological times a Tingari Man of the Tjakamarra kinship subsection travelled from Kampurarrpa, north of the Ehrenberg Range. He travelled west to Umari where he had a liaison with a woman of the Nangala kinship subsection. This is a mother-in-law relationship which is very taboo in Aboriginal culture. He then speared a kangaroo and tried to light a fire using his woomera and a fire stick but was unsuccessful. He moved close to the main rockhole at the site and was then able to light the fire, cooked and ate the kangaroo before travelling south. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari Men were usually followed by Tingari Women and accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs. 24
25
14
Nancy Naninurra Napanangka
(born circa 1932)
Minna Minna, 2002 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 641/02 Acrylic on canvas 100 x 50 cm
Provenance Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Exhibited Nancy Naninurra Napanangka: Living Water, Scott Livesey Galleries,Melbourne 25 March - 18 April 2009, catalogue number 2
Nancy has painted some country located south of Balgo in The Great Sandy Desert. This country is known as Minna Minna, named for the soakwater, or tjumu, which is featured in the centre of the painting, also depicted are four hills situated in this area. This country is important women’s country, and women of the Nungurrayi and Napanangka skin groups dance for this country. The Minna Minna story tells of a band of ancestral women who travel the Tjukurrpa (Dreamtime) landscape, terrorising men. 26
27
15
Makinti Napanangka
(born circa 1930)
Untiled, 2002 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number MN0204030 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Queensland Art Gallery Museums& Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs Macquarie Bank Collection
This painting depicts designs associated with the rockhole site of Lupulnga, south of the Kintore Community. The Peewee (small bird) Dreaming is associated with this site. A group of women visited the site before continuing their travels north to Kintore. The lines in the painting represent spun hair-string which is used in the making of hair-belts, which are worn during the ceremonies associated with the area. 28
29
16
Kathleen Paddoon Napanangka
(born circa 1938)
Nakarra Nakarra, 2003 Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 147/03 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 80 cm
Provenance Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Art Gallery of South Australia Murdoch University Art Collection Laverty Collection
Kathleen has painted some important country for her family, which is south of Balgo in the Great Sandy Desert. The country depicted here is Nakarra Nakarra, one of the sites of the Seven Sisters Dreaming, a story about seven sisters who travel the ancestral landscape running from an old man who wants to marry the youngest. At Nakarra Nakarra a group of hills embody the seven sisters, among which is found a tjurnnu, or soakwater, shown in the centre of the painting. The hills and more distant tali, or sand dunes are shown surrounding Nakarra Nakarra. 30
31
17
Charlie Tjapangati
(born circa 1949)
Untitled, 2002 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number CT0206075 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 153 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Australia Flinders University Art Museum The Holmes Ă Court Collection Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands University of Virginia, USA The Kelton Foundation Collection, Santa Monica
Exhibited Charlie Tjapangati, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne, November 2002, catalogue number 6 This painting depicts designs associated with the rockhole site of Tjiparitjarra, near rocky outcrops and a large sandhill, west of Jupiter Well. In Mythological times a large group of Tingari Men visited this site before travelling east, passing through Kiwirrkura and then north-east to Tarkul and Lake MacKay. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further details was given. Generally, the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretched of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari Men were usually followed by Tingari Women and accompanied by novices and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs 32
33
18
Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri (circa 1920 - 2008) Rockholes near the Olgas, 2008 Watiyawanu Artists catalogue number 77-08477 Acrylic on Belgian linen 182 x 182 cm
Provenance Watiyawanu Artists of Amunturrungu, Mt Liebig
Represented National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of South Australia
34
35
19
Walangkura Reid Napurrula
(circa 1935 – 2004)
Untitled, 2002 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number WR0206016 Painted at Kintore Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 61 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Victoria
This painting depicts designs associated with the Seven Sisters’ Dreaming at Dale Creek, east of Warakuna, near Giles Weather Station. The roundels represent camp sites of a group of women of the Napaltjarri kinship subsection who were being pursued by a man of the Tjakamarra kinship subsection. The women travelled over quite a distance but managed to keep ahead of him. 36
37
20
Yukultji Napangati
(born 1970)
Untitled, 2007 Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YN0709135 Painted at Kiwirrkura Acrylic on Belgian linen 122 x 122 cm
Provenance Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs
Represented National Gallery of Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales Griffith University Art Collection Artbank
This painting depicts designs associated with Yunala, a rockhole and soakage water site situated among sandhills just to the west of the Kiwirrkura community in Western Australia. During ancestral times a group of women camped at this site after travelling from further west. While at Yunala the women camped beside the rockhole, digging for the edible roots of the bush banana or silky pear vine Marsdenia australis, also known as yunala. The lines in this painting represent both the sandhills surrounding the site as well as the yunala. The women later continued their travels towards the east, passing through the Kiwirrkura area on their way to Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). 38
39
21
Timothy Cook
(born 1958)
Star and Moon, 2005 Jilamara Arts and Crafts catalogue number 598/05 Natural earth pigments on canvas 150 x 60 cm
Provenance Jilamara Arts and Crafts, Winnellie
Represented National Gallery of Victoria National Gallery of Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales Murdoch University Art Collection Laverty Collection
40
41
Acknowledgments John Brash Wiebke Brix Plug2studio Sarita Quinlivan Paul Sweeney Peta Appleyard Eastgate & Jarman Framing Steve Ell Susie Bowie
Special Thanks Papunya Tula Artists Warlayirti Artists Watiyawanu Artists
SCOTT LIVESEY GALLERIES 909 a High Street Armadale VIC 3143 Phone: +61 3 98247770 www.scottliveseygalleries.com Catalogue compiled by Scott Livesey & Sophie Foley ISBN 978-0-9806402-2-9 42