Takariya Napaltjarri

Australian artist

Takariya Napaltjarri (born early 1960s)[3] is an Australian Aboriginal artist. She paints for the Papunya Tula artists' co-operative.

Takariya Napaltjarri
Bornearly 1960s
NationalityAustralian
Other namesDoris Napaltjarri[1]
OccupationPainter
Years active1996–present
OrganizationPapunya Tula
StyleWestern Desert art
Spouse(s)Richard Yukenbarri Tjakamarra
 (early 1990s – present)
Freddy West Tjakamarra
 (1984 – late 1980s)
ChildrenTatiga Napurrula
Parent(s)Waku Tjungurrayi (father)
Papalya Nangala (mother)
RelativesTopsy Napaltjarri
Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri
Yalti Napangati
Thomas Tjapangati
Yukultji Napangati
Walala Tjapangati

History

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Early life

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Takariya was born in the 1960s near Lake Mackay, in Western Australia.[4] The exact year is not known.[6] She grew up living a traditional, nomadic way of life in the desert. Takariya's mother was named Papalya and her father was named Waku. Her father died not long after she was born. She had an older sister, Topsy, and an older brother, Warlimpirrnga.[1]

Takariya's family lived in isolation in the desert. They had never come into contact with Euro-Australian society. Most of their relatives had been settled into towns on the edges of the desert. The group's leader, Lanti, had decided that they would stay living in the desert.[1] Takariya and her family finally came into contact with some of their relatives in 1984. They were settled at Kiwirrkurra, on the south edge of Lake Mackay. The event was big news at the time, and the family became famously known as "the last nomads".[2] Takariya was in her mid- to late-20s at the time.[1]

Kiwirrkurra

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Shortly after her family arrived at Kiwirrkurra, Takariya was married to Freddy West Tjakamarra. This was a gesture between the family and the village. They later separated. A few years later, Takariya married another man, named Richard Tjakamarra.[4]

Painting

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Takariya began painting for the Papunya Tula co-operative in June 1996. Later in the year, she had her first exhibition.[4] It was a group exhibition called Papunya Women, shown at Utopia Art Gallery in Sydney. In 1997, her work was included in the Bulada exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.[5] She has also painted for Warlayirti Artists at Balgo, where her husband's family lives.[7] Works by Takariya are held in the Art Gallery of New Wales,[5] as well as in collections overseas.[4]

Her paintings are of sacred dreaming stories and songs. They are mostly about the Tingari (the ancestors of the Pintupi). Takariya paints her and her mother's dreaming country. This includes places like Marrapinti, Ngalpurrunya, Ngaminya, Karilwara, Wirrulnga and Marruwa – places that are sacred to her.[4]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Toohey, Paul (4 May 2004). "The Last Nomads" (PDF). The Bulletin. Nine Entertainment Co. p. 28–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Adlam, Nigel (3 February 2007). "Lost tribe happy in modern world". Herald Sun. Herald & Weekly Times Pty Ltd.
  3. Other spellings of her name include Takaria, Takarriya and Tjakaraia. She is also sometimes known as Doris.[2]
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Johnson, Vivien (2008). Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists. Alice Springs, NT: IAD Press. p. 303.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Takariya Napaltjarri – Snakes and Freshwater at Warrumpa S.W. of Lake Mackay". Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art > Paintings. Art Gallery of New South Wales. 1997. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  6. Some sources estimate her year of birth as 1960,[1][5] others as 1965.[4]
  7. "Full list of Artists". Warlayirti Artists. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-08-29.