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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa and Paddy Carrol Tjungarrayi – Papunya

1994
Greg Weight

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 40.4 cm x 50.4 cm, image: 30.3 cm x 44.8 cm)

Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa (b. c. 1944) and Paddy Carroll Tjungurrayi (c. 1932–2002) are Warlpiri artists from Papunya. Tjampitjinpa was born near Yuendumu in the Western Desert and worked as a stockman for many years. Tjungurrayi was born in Yarrungkanyi in the Western Desert. During the Second World War he served in the Australian Army and for 30 years he worked as a carpenter and stockman at Narwietooma Station. Both men moved to Papunya in the mid-1970s and began to paint. Through his works Tjampitjinpa shares his Rainmaking and Water Dreamings, designs that he also paints on men for traditional ceremonies. Tjungurrayi soon became one of the most well-known Western Desert artists, whose concentric circle designs were included on the Bicentennial ten dollar note in 1988. Tjampitjinpa and Tjungurrayi's works have been included in many exhibitions and are held in major Australian collections.

In 1994, photographer Greg Weight travelled to the Western Desert to photograph artists at work. At Papunya he met Tjampitjinpa and Tjungurrayi. Weight recalled in the resulting book, Australian Artists: 'As the sun neared the horizon I asked if I might make some photographs. The two men nodded, and the dogs, Blacky, Blacky, Blacky, Brownie and Brownie (their real names) dutifully participated.'

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Greg Weight (age 48 in 1994)

Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa (age 50 in 1994)

Paddy Carroll Tjugarrayi (age 62 in 1994)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Patrick Corrigan AM (130 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency