Water Dreaming - RRG110  121 x 167 / 1987

 

REGION: PAPUNYA – Northern Territory
LANGUAGE: PINTUPI

Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra is one of the founding members of the Papunya Tula Artists and his exquisite artworks pay homage and acts as instruments to preserve his culture ancestral traditions. Born in his mother’s country ‘Kalipinya’ [an important Rain Dreaming site] he grew up in the bush west of Pilininyanu until his teenage years when his family settled in Haasts Bluff. Here he remained, working as a labourer and stockman until in 1959 when Papunya was established and he moved location to work as a councillor and school yardman. He along with Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri, Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, were selected by fellow male Papunya peers to paint the instrumental ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’ mural on the school wall. Although being a good Christian [1984: ordained Lutheran pastor], a family man with five children, his skills regarding hunting and tribal knowledge are unsurpassable. Thus, he is considered to one of Australia’s most knowledgably and leading Aboriginal Artists and his artworks unique locate tradition within the contemporary.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
1980 Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Darwin;
1989 Mythscapes, Melbourne, Australia
1993 Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth.
1994 Walkabout World Vision, Melbourne.
1997, 2000 Group Exhibitions, Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
1998, 1999 Group Exhibitions, Canberra, ACT.
1999 Flinders Art Museum, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
2000-2006 Group Exhibitions and Permanent Collection, redrock gallery, Melbourne.

SELECTED COLLECTIONS:
■ National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
■ Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
■ Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
■ Art Gallery of N.S.W., Sydney
■ Holmes a Court, Australia
■ Museums and Art Galleries of Northern Territory, Darwin;
■ University of Western Australia Anthropology Museum, Perth
■ Galeria R. Poznan, Poland.
■ Mem Aziz Private Collections

AWARDS:
1983 Northern Territory Golden Jubilee Art Award, N.T. Australia
1984 Alice Springs Art Prize, Northern Territory, Australia.

 

Emu Dreaming 58x84cm / 2001