Artist: Tjawina Porter
Size: 91.4cm x 55.9cm
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Biography
Tjawina Porter was born circa 1931 and grew up in the desert near Yumara where she lived the traditional nomadic lifestyle with her family. After the death of her father, her family moved to the then newly established government settlement of Papunya. Tjawina now lives in Tjukurla, a remote indigenous community in the WesternDesert of Australia which is close to her birth place.
Tjawina is a skilled craftsperson, and was well known for her skills as a traditional basket weaver and carver of punu before becoming recognized for her exceptional painting skills.
Her artworks represent the traditional homelands associated with her people's ancestral heritage. The iconography depicts sand dunes known as 'tali' and rock escarpments known as 'puli', as well as waterholes and food sources. Her designs are often used in body art during traditional corroborees. The artworks depict the physical markings that the ancient ancestors have provided to give evidence of their times during the time of creation. Tjawina's artworks are rich in symbolism and fine detail, with brushwork and dots travelling steadily across the canvas to reveal the undulating forms of her country. Her extensive cultural and topographical knowledge are evident in her paintings, which evoke the movement and energy of desert landscapes. In the years that Tjawina has been painting she has gained worldwide recognition, participating in many national and international group exhibitions. Her works are represented in private and public collections in Australia and overseas.
Story from the certificate of authenticity:
Tjarlirli Rockhole. Two women are at the Tjarlirli rock hole near Tjukurla. They are cooking up the bush tucker they have collected and have been digging for water. Their campsite is depicted with the wiltchya (shelter) and the fire. The nimpara (skirt worn by women in the early days spun from human hair and conditioned with animal fat and ochres) is depicted as are the sandhills that dominate the landscape. This is Tjawina's country, where her mother and grandmother lived a traditional nomadic life. The painting is based on the designs used in women's ceremonies in the region, and have been passed down from generation to generation.
