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'Dr'
George Tjapaltjarri is a Pintupi artist working in a highly contemporary
style. His paintings possess a wonderful boldness, conveying his strong,
continuous association with his traditional country, ceremonies and the
application of body paint designs. His subjects are that of Tingari
Cycle and Snake Dreaming. He has been represented in major Australian
exhibitions and his works have been acquired by public and private
collections both in Australia and internationally. He has been painting
in the Gallery Gondwana studios since the mid 1990's.
'Dr' George first came into contact with white
society when he and his family walked out of the western desert in 1964.
As a traditional Aboriginal medicine man, he has worked in association
with the Kintore and Tjukurla Medical Clinics, hence the name 'Dr'
George.
'Dr' George's paintings refer to the Tingari
cycle, when a group of Ancestral beings travelled his country calling
into existence the features and Beings of the landscape. This country is
continually revitalised - through song, ritual dance, ceremonies and
paintings - by the traditional owners of the land, of whom 'Dr' George
is one of the senior custodians. His traditional country includes
Karrinwarra, west of Kintore and the Kilinga - Wanampa region located
west of Jupiter Well in the Gibson Desert.
‘Dr’ George Tjapaltjarri – Tingari Cycle
'Dr’ George’s paintings refer to the Tingari
Cycle, when a group of ancestral beings travelled the country the
natural features of the landscape. The country is continually
revitalised in this way – through song, ritual dance, ceremonies and
painting – by the traditional owners of the land, of whom ‘Dr’ George is
one of the most respected senior custodians.
Sacred Sites for which he is custodian
includes; Nyinmi and Karrinwarra, west of Kintore and the Kilinga -
Wanampa region located west of Jupiter Well in the Gibson Desert.
Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle
are of a secret and sacred nature no further details are given.
Generally, the Tingari men were followed by Tingari Women and
accompanied by novices. Their travels and adventures are enshrined in a
number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of
the post-initiatory youths, as well as providing explanations for
contemporary customs.
Dr George's paintings convey his authority and
confidence. They map both the land and the human canvas, providing a
minimalist representation traversing the terrain and detailed, close-up
views of ochre on skin.
EXHIBITIONS:
- 1988 Queensland Museum,
Brisbane, Qld.
- 1998 Tingari - My Dreaming,
Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, W.A.
- 1998 Tingari Cycle -
Paintings of the Pintupi, Gallery Gondwana, N.T.
- 1998 Warlimpirrnga
Tjapaltjarri and 'Dr' George Tjapaltjarri, Coo-ee Aboriginal Art
Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
- 1999 'Tingari Cycle',
Fire-Works Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
- 1999 Painting the
Desert-Alliance Francaise de Canberra & French Embassy.
- 1999 'Dr' George
Tjapaltjarri - Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs N.T.
- 2000 'Lines' - Fire-Works
Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Qld.
- 2000 Recent Paintings by
Walala Tjapaltjarri and 'Dr' George Tjapaltjarri, Coo-ee Aboriginal
Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
- 2000 'Landmarks' Brisbane
Powerhouse, Dar Festival, QLD
COLLECTIONS:
- Museums and Art Galleries of
the Northern Territory.
- National Gallery of
Victoria.
- Private Collections.
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