Tjapartji Kanytjuri Bates facts for kids
Tjapartji Kanytjuri Bates (c.1933–2015), also known as Taparti, was an amazing Aboriginal artist. She lived in communities like Warakurna, Wanarn, and Warburton in the Gibson Desert of Australia. Tjapartji belonged to the Ngaanyatjarra people.
She started creating art around 1991. Her artworks used different materials like paint, canvas, glass, and felt. A big part of her art was about interpreting Tjukurrpa (Dreaming stories) that she learned from her mother and father. Tjapartji was a very active artist. Her work was shown in more than 20 exhibitions, including at famous places like the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia.
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Early Life
Tjapartji Kanytjuri Bates was born around 1933 in a place called Yinunmaru, located in the vast Gibson Desert. Her name was sometimes spelled Taparti, and she was also known as Kanytjuri. She was part of the Karimarra skin group.
Artistic Journey
In the early 1990s, Tjapartji joined the Warburton Arts Project. This project holds the largest collection of Indigenous art owned by Aboriginal people themselves in Australia. It was here that she created her first known artwork in 1991, titled Kungkarrangkalpa at Wanarn.
Later in the 1990s, Bates moved back to Wanarn and kept painting. Towards the end of her life, she lived at the Wanarn Aged Care Facility. This facility had a special weekly painting program with the Warakurna Arts Centre. During this time, her art style became more free and abstract. Besides the art she made through the program, Tjapartji also painted on everyday items she found around her, like pieces of cardboard and even pillowcases!
Stories and Style in Her Art
Tjapartji Bates' art mainly focused on Tjukurrpa (Dreaming stories) passed down from her mother and father. Two important stories she often painted were Kungarrangkalpa (the Seven Sisters) and Warmarrla Tjukurrpa. Her artworks had special features like "unusual symmetries" and "circular patterns." She also used traditional symbols and shapes in her paintings.
Awards and Recognition
In 1998, Tjapartji Bates won the Normandy Heritage Art Prize. This award was part of the National Indigenous Heritage Art Awards, organized by the Australian Heritage Commission. Her winning artwork was a large panel made of slump glass.
Exhibitions
Tjapartji's artworks were shown after her passing in a special exhibition called Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters. This exhibition was a team effort between important Aboriginal land custodians from the Central and Western deserts and the National Museum of Australia, along with other groups. Tjapartji's art in this exhibition helped to show and explain the Seven Sisters songlines. The exhibition was first shown in Canberra from September 2017 to February 2018. It is still traveling around the world and has been seen in places like Plymouth, UK, and Berlin, Germany. It is also planned to be shown in Paris, France.
Here are some other exhibitions where Tjapartji Bates' works were displayed:
| Year | Exhibit |
|---|---|
| 1998 | National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, The Art of Place |
| 2004 | Colour Power: Aboriginal Art post 1984, National Gallery of Victoria |
| 2006 | Pukurlpatulatju Palyara Pirrtja: 'We Are Happy to Make Painting', Perth
Rawa-latju Nintirringkulatjaku,: 'Knowing is the Future', Melbourne Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs Tjukurrpa Tjarralatju Palyara Mularapa: 'We Paint Really Strong Stories', Sydney |
| 2007 | Tjukurrpa Mularrpa Waylkumunu Pirni: 'Lots of Good True Stories', Perth
Kutju-One, Western Desert Mob, Perth Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs Palyaralatju Pirrtja Puru Tjanpi Tjarra Puli Yuliyala: 'We are Making Paintings and Tjanpi in Puli Yuliya', Melbourne Tjukurtjalatju Palyarra: 'We are Painting our Stories', Sydney |
| 2008 | Watilu Minymalu Kulira Watjarra Tjukurrpa Purlkanya Mularrpa: 'Men and Women Know and Speak of Their Profound Knowledge', Perth
Kaparli Tjamu Nintipungku: 'This is the Deep Knowledge Our Old People Gave Us", Melbourne Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs Warakurna Artists and Wanarn Aged Care Paintings, Sydney |
| 2009 | Printingpa Ngaanya Yanku Kayili: 'Warakurna Paintings Travelling North', Darwin
Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs Warakurna Artists Group Exhibition, Sydney |
| 2010 | Tjukurrpa Pulkatjara – The Power of the Law, South Australian Museum
Warakurna Artists and Tjanpi Desert Weavers Exhibition, Broome, WA |
| 2012 | One Song Different Tune, Broome, WA |
| 2017-2018 | Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, ACT; then touring internationally |
Art Collections
Tjapartji Bates' artworks are also part of several important art collections. These include the National Gallery of Victoria Collection, the Marshall Collection, the Merenda Collection, and the National Gallery of Australia Collection. Her work is also found in the Lagerberg-Swift Collection, the Harriet and Richard England Collection, the Lepley Collection, and the W. & V. McGeoch Collection.
