Collection Online

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