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CHARLIE TJAPANGATI (born circa 1949)
‘Acrylic on Belgian linen’
137 x 122 cm

This painting depicts designs associated with the swamp and rockhole site of Palipalintjanya,
just west of Jupiter Well. In mythological times a large group of Tingari men camped at this
site before travelling south, then turning east passing through Wala Wala, Kiwirrkura and
then north-east to Tarkul and Lake Mackay. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further detail is given. Generally the Tingari are a group of mythical characters of the Dreaming who travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari men were usually followed by Tingari women and accompanied by novices. Their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These mythologies form part of the teachings of the post initiatory youths today as well as providing explanations for contemporary customs.

PROVENANCE
Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs, painted at Kintore 2003,
Certificate number CT0309135

Charlie Tjapangati was born at the site of Tjulurrunya, west of Kiwirrkura. He is the younger
brother of Nanyuma Napangati, who also paints for Papunya Tula Artists. During the early
1960’s Charlie travelled in to Papunya by truck with one of Jeremy Long’s government patrols. He was a young teenager at the time and was initiated in Papunya after arriving. Charlie commenced painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1978, and in 1999 he contributed to
the Kintore mens’ painting as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.

REPRESENTED
National Gallery of Australia
Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory
Flinders University Art Museum, South Australia
Victorian Arts Centre
The Holmes à Court Collection
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
University of Virginia, USA
The Kelton Foundation Collection, Santa Monica, USA