ABORIGINAL DESERT ART  GALLERY

DR.GEORGE TAKATA TJAPALTJARRI

Dr.George is a composed and good-natured person. He has worked in the Kintore medical clinic as a traditional healer. His work there has given rise to the term, ‘Doctor’.

BORN CA: 1930
GROUP: PINTUPI
AREA: KARRINWARA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

He was born in the Gibson Desert near Jupiter Well. Dr.George has one son and one daughter. He leads a traditional life moving between Kiwirrkura and Tjukula. He has been deeply immersed in painting and art since the early 1980’s. He has learned the skills and techniques from a number of Traditional Aboriginal Artists.

His country spans approximately some 150 Kilometres around Lake Macdonald. This area encompasses Lake Mackay to the north, Sir Frederick Ranges and Lake Hopkins to the south, Jupiter Well to the west and Kintore to the east. Contained within this vast area of territory are a score or more of relevant traditional sites that he paints.

He paints two specific dreamings, the Tingari cycle and Snake dreaming. Dr.George employs different techniques when painting. One style incorporates the use of roundels in dot form or in block form whilst his other style incorporates the use of the above together with the arrangement of stripes across the canvas.

These dreamings have been handed down from generation to generation for many thousands of years. Dr.George must now keep this dreaming and pass it on to future generations so that it may be preserved.

Dr.George is a respected member of his people following a very traditional lifestyle. He is very confident and proud when speaking of his traditional ways. He paints his dreamings totally naturally and in a straightforward and delightful way. These qualities reflect his persona and acclaim the spirit of his family, his country and his people.

Dr.George Takata Tjapaltjarri has been painting for the Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery, Alice Springs – Sydney – Melbourne since 1994.

In this painting the artist depicts the site of Ungarla, West of Kiwirkurra in the Gibson Desert, which is associated with the Tingarri Cycle.

The custodians of this dreaming are Aboriginal skin groups (extended families) named Tjangala and Tjampitjinpa's, Another skin group named Tjapaltjarri are the guardian of this particular dreaming and they are responsible for body painting and overall making sure this " FIRE DREAMING " ceremony is carried out correctly. This ceremony takes place the night before a controlled " bush fire " is lit and continues till the early hours in the morning.

The Aboriginal people would light the controlled fire just as they were about to move on walkabout, doing this would ensure a bountiful food source when the family group returned in the future. Animals will be feeding in this area on new growth which will make it easier for the men to hunt when they return the next season.

This painting show us where the Tjampitjinpas and the Tjangalas have lit the fire. Nampitjinpa and Nangala who are the men's respective sisters, are waiting at the ceremonial site in preparation for the ceremony.

This painting depicts the beginning of the cycle of regeneration.

Due to the secret and sacred nature of the dreaming, no further information may be obtained.