Ronnie Tjampitjinpa

Walungurru

2015

This painting depicts designs related to the site of Walungurru, also known as Kintore. In the Dreaming, an ancestral Ngintaka (Perentie Lizard) travelled to Walungurru from the west. Two women tracked it and eventually found it. One held it down while the other killed it. When Ngintaka died, its body turned to stone and became a mountain, which today is a prominent landmark next to the community of Kintore.

I’ve been here a long time. Boys we’ve been running around, become men, and I’m still here… Yes, I’m a Pintupi man.

RONNIE TJAMPITJINPA

Language Group: Pintupi
Date: Born 1943

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa was an early participant in the painting movement and one of the original Papunya Tula Artist shareholders. He was also one of the strongest advocates for Pintupi to return to their traditional homelands and instrumental in founding the community at Walungurru (Kintore), serving as the chairman of the community council. While emerging as an important community leader, Ronnie simultaneously emerged as one of the most important artists of his generation. Inspired by designs carved into ceremonial objects, he pioneered a bold, linear style of painting. In 2004, Ronnie was elected as Chairman of Papunya Tula Artists. Ronnie’s sons, Aubrey Tjangala and David Tjangala, his second wife, Purungu Napangati, and his third wife, Mary Napangati, have also painted for Papunya Tula Artists. In 2015 he was given a retrospective at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.

RONNIE TJAMPITJINPA, Walungurru, 2015

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas. 24 × 21 5/8 in. (61 × 55 cm).

Commissioned by Richard Klingler and Jane Slatter for Irriṯitja Kuwarri Tjungu | Past and Present Together.

Papunya Tula Artists Manager Paul Sweeney discusses the history of the company, with some references to the work of artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa.

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa talks about his work, and Papunya Tula Artists manager Paul Sweeney comments too.

Are you related to this artist? Are you a scholar of artwork from the Papunya Tula movement? Please contact us at kluge-ruhe@virginia.edu if you would like to add something to this page or see something that is missing or incorrect.