Dr George Tjapaltjarri
Born: c. 1930’s
Died: 2017
Language: Pintupi
Country: Gibson Desert, Western Australia
Dr George was born circa 1930s around Jupiter Well in the Gibson Desert W.A (approximately 900kms west of Alice Springs). He was also known as George Tjampu (Ward) Tjapaltjarri, Nyunmul, Nyumul-nga, Takata and Takara.
Jeremy Long (Patrol Officer Service) remembered George, when he first saw ‘white people’ in 1964, as very extroverted and keen to see the rest of the world.
George moved to Kintore after it was established in 1981 and was a traditional healer ‘doctor man’ (Mapam) with the Kintore Health Clinic and his community. From then onwards he was known as Dr George and his traditional and spiritual healing powers including his ‘laying on of hands’ were regarded with reverence.
He was an eminent Pintupi Elder responsible for the initiation of young men by sharing the knowledge of the passed down traditions and ceremonies from the Dreamtime including the esoteric Tingari Cycle. This teaching included the use of painting vertical and horizontal lines, the ceremonial body paint designs on young men during (Malliera) initiation ceremonies.
Dr George began painting for Papunya Tula in 1973 in Papunya and then again in the late 1980’s in Kintore and then Kiwirrkurra. In the late 1990’s Dr George and his family moved to Alice where he initially painted with Papunya Tula and then Gallery Gondwana.
Dr George used the customary narrative around the sacred sites of Karinwarra, Nyinmi and Ungarla to depict Snake Dreaming and Tingari Cycle of the ancestors’ travels during the Tjukurrpa (creation time) spreading lore and performing ceremonies that created the diversity of the land and societal practices which are still followed today.
Dr George began working with Tingari Arts in 2001. His paintings are bold linear lines or large spots. Whilst working he would sing in Pintupi the important (and only shared with the initiated) dreaming story associated with the painting whilst physically exposing these raw lines and large spots. His paintings are considered Contemporary Art.
Dr George was a very strong and impressive character, always ready to laugh and often, very mischievous. He didn’t appear to care about having very limited English and would speak rapidly at length in ‘language’ knowing we could not understand.
Dr George was a highly respected artist and in demand for his spiritual and traditional healing powers. Painting until his eyesight failed, he lived his later life with family in Warburton (WA).
Collections include:
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
Museum & Art Gallery of NT, Darwin
Sources used:
Johnson, Vivien, Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists, Australia. IAD Press, 2008
