ALICE SPRINGS - MELBOURNE - SYDNEY
87 TODD MALL ALICE SPRINGS 0870 AUSTRALIA
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DINI CAMPBELL TJAMPITJINPA
Born in the early 40's in Pintupi country west of Kiwirrkura, across the WA border near Jupiter Well. He grew up 'in the bush' with his family , and had already been initiated when the group walked into the Catholic mission settlement of Balgo in the late 50's. While living at Balgo, Dini did stockwork and wood carting.
While visiting relatives in Papunya, he observed the old men painting during the 70's. His older brother, ANATJARI Tjampitjinpa, was one of the original group of Papunya artists .
During one of these visits in 1981, Dini had his first experience of painting on canvas as one of the team of men who assisted Uta Uta Tjangala on the monumental canvas depicting events at the site of Yumari, which has since travelled the world as part of the Aboriginal Arts Board collection.
Painting started up at Balgo Education Centre around this time, moving from Christian themes to paintings of the artists' country, and developing distinctive regional styles. He does not appear to have painted at Balgo during this period, but the influence of these Balgo styles (eg. Linked dotting) was evident in the paintings which he produced after moving from Balgo to Kintore in the early 80's.
Collections:
National Gallery of Victoria, Supreme Court of NT, Darwin.
Exhibitions:
John Weber Gallery, New York, 1989,
solo exhibition Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, 1990,
Desert Art Gallery, Melbourne 1994.
Australian Embassy Washington and New York 1999.
TINGARRI CYCLE
by
DINNY CAMPBELL TJAMPITJINPA
Aboriginal paintings are based on myths of the Dreamtime. In modern dot representation, the sacred aspect of the painting is not always revealed, but the meaning remains, transmitted through symbols which are easily understood.
Each person has a particular dreaming to which they belong and they have special ceremonial dances and songs that combine together to form a unique religion that makes up the lives of the Aboriginal people. All things related to the land is the keeper of the Dreaming stories, which are told in the paintings and are preserved.
'The Tingarri stories recount the creation-time travel of a particular, important group of elders who taught ritual knowledge to initiates. This painting depicts designs associated with the secret-sacred Tingari ceremonies.
This particular painting shows us the travels of two men from a place called Mt Allen to Kirwirkurra. This is a journey that is both over time as well as space. The circles show us specific events that are of spiritual importance to these men and the travel lines show the journey, as well as the fact that these places or events are of an archaic nature in that they have been experienced over many, many years.
'Generally, the Tingarri are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming, who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals, creating and shaping particular sites.
The Tingarri men are usually followed by Tingarri women and accompanied by novices and their travel and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles.
These mythologies form part of the teaching of the post initiate youths as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.
Due to the secret and sacred elements, no further information may be obtained.