ALICE SPRINGS - MELBOURNE - SYDNEY
87 TODD MALL ALICE SPRINGS 0870 AUSTRALIA
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GOODWIN KINGSLEY TJAPALTJARRI
Goodwin Kingsley Tjapaltjarri born in 1950 near Haasts Bluff, a settlement and reserve 215 km north west of Alice Springs, NT.
Goodwin spent most of his early childhood in the harsh environment of the central desert, where he was taught how to make spears, shields, boomerangs, and to learn the vital skills of hunting and survival in the unforgiving desert environment. The deteriorating water supply at Haasts Bluff soon persuaded the government to move the station 23-km north to Papunya. Godwin's family also left and moved to Papunya towards the end of 1960. Papunya settlement was established in 1959 by the Federal Government to facilitate the assimilation of the desert people. Goodwin attended school there briefly.
During the '70s he worked as a stockman at Haasts Bluff, Hermannsburg, Vaughan Springs, and Orange Spring near Jay Creek. Goodwin is close family to Old Mick Namarari, whose involvement with the painting movement from its beginnings must have been observed by Goodwin during his visits to Papunya during that period. In the early '80s he began to paint for Papunya Tula Artists with instruction from Charlie Egalie on the use of paint on canvas. Turkey Tolson assisted Goodwin with the dreaming stories Goodwin was entitled to paint. Goodwin's traditional country is in Pintupi territory around Nyuuman, southeast of Kintore where Old Mick Namarari has his outstation. Goodwin paints Tingarri Dingo and Rock Wallaby stories from this area. Collections: Holmes à Court.
TINGARRI CYCLE
GOODWIN KINGSLEY TJAPALTJARRI
This particular piece shows us the travels of two men from a place called Mt Allan (Yuelamu) to Kirwirkurra. This is a journey that is both over time as well as space. The squares 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.
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.
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.