Tjamu Tjamu
2005
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Measurements
152.4 × 213.4 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through the NGV Foundation with the assistance of Ian Hicks AM and Dorothy Hicks, Fellows, 2005
©Jackie Kurltjunyintja Giles/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Tjamu Tjamu represents the artist’s birthplace, a Kangaroo Dreaming site east of Kiwirrkurra. A male kangaroo ancestor had travelled there from the north and called a group of ancestral women to camp with him at a rock hole. He wanted these women, who were his sisters, aunties, mothers and grandmothers, to become his wives. The women wanted to call him tjamu tjamu (grandfather, grandson) but he wanted to be called kurril kurril (keep as a spouse someone who is ineligible). The Kangaroo ancestor continued his travels to Tjutalpi, Witunkuntja, Warti, Makarra, Millmillpa and Kurryl.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Patjarr, Western Australia
Accession Number
2005.540
Department
First Nations Australia
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation