Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
Aboriginal Painting by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
2014

Name: Aboriginal Painting by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
Brand: Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
Price: 17800 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (also cited as: Michael Nelson Jagamarra, or Jakamara) is a Senior Warlpiri Tribesman and an Elder of the Papunya Community in central Australia. Born c. 1949 at Pikilyi, Vaughan Springs west of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, he grew up ‘in the bush’. His father was an important tribal elder and medicine man at Yuendumu. It was therefore automatic that he would grow up with the traditional values and knowledge that now influences his paintings. Michael lived at Haasts Bluff until his parents took him to Yuendumu for European education at the mission school. He left school at thirteen, after initiation, and worked at buffalo shooting, driving trucks, droving cattle and in the army, before returning to Yuendumu and then to Papunya to settle in 1976. He worked for a time in the Government store and for the Council. Michael learned to paint at Papunya by observing the senior men such as Billy Stockman and Old Mick Tjakamarra. Although he was tutored by his uncle, Jack Tjupurrula, Michael developed his own style and began painting earnestly from 1983. Michael is known as master desert painter for his depiction of several Dreamings in one painting. For him the understanding of the Dreaming stories that go with his paintings is all important – without the stories his paintings would ‘mean nothing’ as far as he is concerned. His Dreamings include the Possum, Snake, Two Kangaroos, Rock Wallaby, Bush Banana, Honey Ant and Yam. In 1984 Michael won the National Aboriginal Art Award with his painting ‘Three Dreamings’. His reputation as a painter rose rapidly after this. He exhibited his work in the 1986 Biennale of Sydney and featured in ‘The State of the Art’, a British art documentary. In 1987 Michael had been asked to paint a major work (27’long) to decorate the foyer of Sydney’s Opera House and he chose to paint his ‘Possum Dreaming’ story. A great highlight in Michael’s career was in 1988 when he was commissioned to design a 196 sq-metre mosaic in the main forecourt of Australia’s new Parliament House in Canberra. The work was based on his ‘Kangaroo and Emu’ dreaming. Michael was presented to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, when she officially opened the building. During 1988-89 one of Michael’s major works “Five Stories” was reproduced on the catalogue cover for the Asia Society’s exhibition, ‘Dreamings, The Art of Aboriginal Australia’, in New York. In this exhibition Michael’s participation included ground painting and ceremonial dance which he executed with the Papunya elder Billy Stockman. Michael undertook a commission in 1989 to paint a BMW, M3 racing car by hand. In 1993 he was awarded the Australia Medal for his services to Aboriginal Art. Michael is a ‘real Walpiri man’, a philosopher and an articulate exponent of Western Desert viewpoints on the internationally famous art movement in which he has played such a key role. Michael has gained worldwide recognition, participating in several national and international solo and group exhibitions. Today his paintings are represented in major private and public collections throughout the world, including Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States of America. At almost any landmark occasion in Aboriginal art during the golden years of the mid to late 80s, Michael was to be found, patiently giving the same eloquent, heartfelt answers to the media’s questions about why he painted this or that picture and what the Dreaming is. Michael has been painting for Mem Aziz since 1995. Mem had spent time traveling up north learning about the history and culture of the Aborigines in the 1990s. It was during this active discovery that Mem found how much he appreciated the continent’s indigenous culture. His association with the communities culminated in his being adopted by the tribe and given the Aboriginal name Tjampitjinpa – something of which he is immensely proud. It was during this time that Mem met Michael and they have enjoyed a supportive friendship since those early days. Since 2000 Michael uses bold designs executed in a free flowing way still keeping to the Warlpiri mythology. He is considered to be one of the most famous and prolific painters in Australia and his biography, ‘Michael Jagamara Nelson by Vivien Johnson was published in 1997.

Creator:

Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (1949, Australian)

Creation Year:

2014

Dimensions:

Height: 76.58 in (194.5 cm)Width: 51.58 in (131 cm)

Medium:

Linen,Acrylic

Movement & Style:

Contemporary

Period:

2010-