Ronnie Tjampitjinpa

Tingarritjarra

1989

In this work, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa depicts a Tingarri site associated with the tall grass lukarrara, whose seeds are ground to make a form of camp bread. The circles may represent the billowing grasses, round loaves of bread, or life-giving water sources, but without the artist’s explanation, the precise subject matter is impossible to determine.

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 c. 1943

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa was an early participant in the painting movement and one of the original Papunya Tula Artist s 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, Purrunga 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, Tingarritjarra, 1989

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas. 59 5/8 x 48 1/8 in. (151.5 x 122.2 cm). Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997. 1990.7004.001.

Ronnie at Papunya Tula Artist's Walungurru (Kintore) studio, 1997.

Photo by Paul Sweeney.

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa at work in Papunya Tula Artists’s Walungurru (Kintore) studio, 1997.

Photo by Paul Sweeney.

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa talks about his work while Papunya Tula Artists manager Paul Sweeney situates it in historical context.

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

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