ABORIGINAL DESERT ART  GALLERY

RONNIE TJAMPITJINPA

Born c.1943 around Muyinnga, about 100km west of Kintore Ranges across the WA border.

Ronnie's family traveled extensively across Pintupi territory, moving throughout this region and also in the area around Lake Mackay in the NT. He was initiated into Aboriginal Law at Yumari, near his birthplace.

Ronnie and his younger brother, Smithy ZIMARRON, originally came from the bush at Yuendumu, and later joined relatives in Papunya, where Ronnie worked as a laborer, assisting with the fencing of the aerodrome.

Ronnie began to paint in the early years of the painting movement. Over the years moving between Papunya, Yuendumu and Mt Doreen station, Ronnie talked to many people about returning to traditional lands, a move which was made possible with the establishment of Kintore in 1981. Ronnie moved there with his family in the early 80's, and has since emerged as one of Papunya Tula Artists' major painters.

In 1988 he won the Alice Springs Art Prize. In 1989 he had his first solo exhibition at the Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, travelling to Melbourne for the exhibition and was included in 'Australian Perspecta 1993' at the Art Gallery of NSW.

1996 sees Ronnie as one of the Central Deserts most sought after artists, producing stunning linear work. His work is currently in high demand fetching high prices at the Sotheby's Auction Rooms in Melbourne, Australia.

Chairman of the Kintore Outstation Council, Ronnie currently resides at Redbank (Ininti). Ronnie Tjampitjinpa has painted for the Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery (Michael Hollow), Alice Springs, since 1992.

Collections:

National Gallery of Australia,
Canberra, Araluen Arts Centre,
Alice Springs, Art Gallery of SA,
Holmes`a Court,
Art Gallery of WA,
Museums & Art Galleries of NT,
Darwin Supreme Court,
Musee National des Africans et Oceaniens, Paris,
Michael Hollow collection etc.

TINGARRI 'MY COUNTRY' b y RONNIE TJAMPITJINPA

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 Tingarri site south east of Kintore.

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.