Details of Bernard Tjalkuri
About
Bernard was born in the bush at Waltja rockhole close to the home land of Kunumata in the far north west of the Pitjantjatjara Lands of northern south Australia in the 1930. Bernard's mother country is Watarru and his father's place is Aparatjara, which is located near Kanpi community. Bernard lived a traditional nomadic life in the desert prior to contact with Europeans. He remembers seeing whitefella's travelling through his country as they headed west to Warburton Mission when he was a young man.
Bernard has the authority to paint many stories associated with his traditional country He is an important community elder with a wealth of knowledge of the Law or Tjukurpa. This cultural knowledge is handed down orally in the retelling of teh Tjukurpa (traditional stories of the ancestor's journeys), which not only sustains Anangu (Aboriginal people) physically, but socially and spiritually. Tjukurp painting depicts a fragment of a larger story, a living history where an ancestor was involved in creating country. Individuals have authority and ownership of this land and the associated sites and stories. The maintenance of this country is paramount to artists of Watarru and they continue to care and manage the land with respect and responsibility.
TJUNGU PALYA
Located about 100 kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country originally owned by the Pitjanjatjara people. These ranges, known to the Anangu as Murputja, likening the mountain to a bony ridge of a person's spine, are the source of many waterholes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements. Over 50 artists from Marputja joined together with family members living in traditional country 180 kms to the south of Watarru and created Tjungu Palya (Good Together).
Tjungu Palya is 100% owned and maanged by Aboriginal people, ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community. Tjungu Palya promotes cultural integrity and the ethical sales of authentic art.
MEDIUM
Acrylic on canvas
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2010 - 'Intangibles in Terra Australis', Sala kubo-kutxa in association with Marshall Arts, San Sebastian, Spain
2010 - 'Partnerships', Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2010 - 'Senior Artists - Important New Works', Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2010 - 'Tjukurpa Pulkatjara: The Power of the Law', South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA
2010 - 'Raft Launch', Raft Artspace, Alice Springs, NT
2009 - 'Kulini Ngura - KNowing Country', Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2009 - 'Desert Mob', Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2009 - 'Royal Bank of Scotland Emerging Artist Award', Sydney, NSW
2009 - 'Tali Tjintiri - Tjintiri Munu Kapi Tjukula', Tjungu Palya Print Show, Nomad Gallery, Reflection Room, Holiday Inn, Darwin, NT
2009 - 'Tjukurpa Wirunya Nakyini', Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, SYdney, NSW
2008 - 'Tjukurpa Kutjupa Kutjupa Tjuta', Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, SYdney, NSW
2008 - 'Manta Nyangatja Pitjanjatjara', Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2008 -'Iwara Mantangka - Land Lines', Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2008 - 'Tjungu Palyaku Warka Nyuwana', RedDot Gallery, Singapore
2007 - 'Uwankara Ngura Palya', Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2007 - 'Nganampa Nguraku Tjukurpa', Aboriginal & Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2006 - 'Desert Mob', Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2005 - 'New Work from the APY Lands', South Australia Museum, Adelaide, SA
2005 - 'Art from the APY Lands', Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
COLLECTIONS
Art GAllery of Aouth Australia
Australian National University
ArtBank
The Marshall Collection
The Merenda Collection
The Lagerberg-Swift Collection
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
2010 - Nunn, Louise. 'Bush Artists Take World By Storm, The Advertiser, March 8
2010 - Bevan, S. 'Exhibition Overshadowed by Death', The West Australian, March 17
2010 - Tjukurpa Pulkatjara - The Power of the Law, exhibition catalogue, Ananguku Arts Wakefield Press
2009 - 'Indigenous Art + Law + Healing, University Club, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA
2009 - Cruthers, John, 'Tjukurpa Mantataja - Stories from the Land', Australian Aboriginal Art, Issue 1, March 2009
2009 - IAD Press, Jukurpa Calendar
2008 - IAD Press, Jukurpa Calendar
2003 - Ngangkari work - Anangu Way: Traditional Healers of Central Australia', Ngaanyatjarra Pitjanjatjara Yankunyjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation, Alice Springs, NT
Artworks of Bernard Tjalkuri
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This artist currently has no artworks for sale, please view some recent sold works below.