Dini Campbell Tjampitjinpa

Tingarri Cycle at Minyurlpa near Jupiter Well

1988

The opening of new communities spread the Papunya painting movement west into the furthermost regions of the desert. At the same time, painting began at other communities across the desert. Dini Campbell began painting at Walungurru (Kintore) in the mid-1980s, but had family connections to Wirrimanu (Balgo), where artists favored bright colors, looser brushwork and more organic compositions. Having witnessed the different styles of paintings being produced across the two communities, Campbell developed a unique style that softened the rigidity of Papunya painting with free-flowing forms and lively color combinations. This work is particularly unusual for its use of black dots.

Language Group: Pintupi
Dates: 1942-2000

Dini Campbell Tjampitjinpa was born in Pintupi country, west of Kiwirrkurra. In the 1950s, he lived in Balgo working in stockwork, wood carting, and at a Christian missionary. Dini began painting at Walungurru (Kintore) in the mid-1980s but had family connections to the community at Wirrimanu (Balgo) where artists favored bright colors, looser brushwork, and more organic compositions. By the late 1980s and early 90s, Dini was one of the most recognized artists based in Kintore. He painted the stories of the Tingarri cycle for his country around Lake Ngarru and Walatju, as well as Panpartu and Nyinmi soakage in the Gibson Desert. His paintings were included in the Papunya Tula group exhibition at the John Weber Gallery in New York in 1988. He also received a solo exhibition at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi in 1990.

Biographical information sourced from Vivien Johnson, Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists. Alice Springs: IAD Press, 2008.

DINI CAMPBELL TJAMPITJINPA, Tingarri Cycle at Minyurlpa near Jupiter Well, 1988

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas. 72 × 48 1/8 in. (182.9 × 122.2 cm). Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997. 1989.7012.002.

Dini Campbell.

Photo by Dennis Schulz.

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