Michael Nelson Tjakamarra

Michael Nelson Tjakamarra


Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (also cited as: Michael Nelson Jagamara, or Jakamara) is a Senior Warlpiri Tribesman and an Elder of the Papunya Community in central Australia. Born circa 1949 at Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs) west of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, he grew up ‘in the bush’. He lived at Haasts Bluff for a time until his parents took him to Yuendumu for European education at the mission school. He left school at thirteen, after initiation, and worked buffalo shooting, driving trucks, droving cattle, and in the army, before returning to Yuendumu and then to Papunya to settle in 1976. He worked for a time in the Government store and for the Council, observing the work of older artists for years before beginning to paint regularly for himself in 1983.

He is a ‘real Walpiri man’, a philosopher and an articulate exponent of Western Desert viewpoints on the internationally famous art movement in which he has played such a key role. Michael has gained worldwide recognition, participating in several national and international solo and group exhibitions. At almost any landmark occasion in aboriginal art during the golden years of the mid to late 80s, Michael was to be found, patiently giving the same eloquent, heartfelt answers to the media’s questions about why he painted this or that picture and what the Dreaming is. When the architects of Australia’s new Parliament House decided to incorporate an Aboriginal mosaic into the main forecourt of the building, the design they chose at this momentous site was Michael’s. Today his paintings are represented in major private and public collections throughout the world, including Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas.

 
Kangaroo Dreaming 53x127cm / 2004 
 
Michael has been painting for Mem Aziz since 1995. Mem had spent time traveling up north learning about the history and culture of the Aborigines in the 1990s. It was during this active discovery that Mem found how much he appreciated the continent’s indigenous culture. His association with the communities culminated in his being adopted by the tribe and given the Aboriginal name Tjampitjinpa – something of which he is immensely proud. It was during this time that Mem met Michael and they have enjoyed a supportive friendship since those early days.

For Michael the understanding of the Dreaming stories that go with his paintings is all important – without the stories his paintings would ‘mean nothing’ as far as he is concerned. Michael paints Possum, Snake, Two Kangaroos, Rock Wallaby, Bush Banana, Honey Ant and Yam Dreamings.



EXHIBITIONS
SOLO:
1989 – Michael Nelson Jagamara – Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
1990 – Michael Nelson Jagamara - Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
1993 - Utopia Art, Sydney
1996 – New Work, Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane
1997 – Nine Dreamings from Mt Singleton, Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane, Redrock gallery, Melborne
1998 – New Expressions, Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane
1999 – Without the Story the Painting is Nothing, curated by S.P. Wright Brisbane City Gallery
1999 – MNJ, Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane
1999 – New work, Desart Gallery Sydney
2000 – Michael Nelson Jagamara Paintings, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
2000 – Some Other Way, MNJ and Campfire Group. Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane
2003- Redrock gallery Melbourne
Bush Yam Dreaming 127 x 206 / 2003 - - - Kangaroo Dreaming 127 x 214cm / 2003

GROUP:
1984 – Papunya and Beyond, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
1984 – The First National Aboriginal Art Award, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1985 – The Face of the Centre: Papunya Tula Paintings 1971 – 84, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
1986 – The Biennale of Sydney, AGNSW, Sydney
1986 – Roar Studios, Melbourne
1987 – State of the Art: ideas and images of the 1980’s, Institute of Contemporary Art, London
1987 – The Fourth National Indigenous Art Award, MAGNT, Darwin
1987 – Papunya Tula: 1982-1983, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
1988 – Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia, The Asia society Galleries, New York
1989 – Papunya Tula: Contemporary Paintings from Australia’s Western Desert, John Weber Gallery, New York
1989 – Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City
1989 – A Myriad of dreaming: 20th Century Aboriginal Art, Westpac Gallery, Melbourne
1989 – A Myriad of dreaming:20th Century Aboriginal Art, Design Warehouse, Sydney
1989 – Aboriginal Art: The Continuing Tradition, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
1989 – Windows on the Dreaming, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
1990 – Balance 1990, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
1991 – Aboriginal Art and Spirituality, High Court, Canberra
1991 – Flash Pictures, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
1991 – The Painted Dream: Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings from the Tim & Vivien Johnson Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery & Te Whare Taonga o Aoteroa National Art Gallery, New Zealand
1991 – Alice to Penzance, The Mall Galleries, London
1992 – Central Australian Aboriginal Art & Craft Exhibition, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
1993 – Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Kung Gubunga, Oasis Gallery, Gold Coast
1993 – Tjukurrpa, Desert Dreamings, Aboriginal Art from Central Australia (1971 – 1993), Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
1993 – 4 – Aratjara, Art of the First Australians, Touring – Kunstammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf; Hayward Gallery, London; Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek, Denmark
1996 – Salt Water, Fresh Water, Bore Water, Touring Regional Galleries with Campfire Group
1996 – All Stock Must Go! Asia Pacific Triennial, Queensland Art Gallery with Campfire Group
1998 – Powerful Medicine, Dar Festival of Indigenous Art & Culture, King George Square, Brisbane with Campfire Group
1998 – Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
1998 – National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, Old Parliament House, ACT
1998 – National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, Touring Exhibition
1999 – Asia Pacific Triennial, Queensland Art Gallery
2000 – National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, Old Parliament House, ACT with Campfire Group
2000 – Telstra National Indigenous Art Awards, MAGNT with Campfire Group
2000 – Genesis and Genius, The Art of Papunya Tula, AGNSW
2000 – Landmarks, Dar Festival of Indigenous Art and Culture, Brisbane Powerhouse with Campfire Group
2000 – Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne with Campfire Group
2002 – redrock gallery Melbourne
2007 June, redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, Gallery Grand Opening Beijing, P.R China
2007 July, redrock gallery, Group Exhibition China World Exhibition Centre, Beijing P.R China
2007 Aug, redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, Grand Hyatt Hotel,Beijing, P.R China
2007 Nov, redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, Internation Art Expo, Beijing, P.R China 

 
COMMISSIONS:
1987 – Sydney Opera House Bicentennial Mural
1988 – Mosaic Forecourt, New Parliament House, Canberra
1989 – BMW Art Car Project – Painted BMW M3 Racing Car


AWARDS:
1984 – First prize, Inaugural National Aboriginal Art Award
1993 – Australian Medal for Contribution to Aboriginal Art
1993 – Visual Arts/Craft Board for Australia Council Fellowship


COLLECTIONS:
Araluen Arts Centre, Rockhampton Art Gallery, National Gallery of Australia, Mem Aziz collection, Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Queensland Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Holmes a Court Collection; Ho-Am Art Museum, Korea, Vizard Collection, Brisbane City Gallery; University of Queensland Art Museum, Centre Culturel Tjibaou, New Caledonia and many others.

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