Born at Tjitururrnga west of the Kintore Ranges in Pintupi country c. 1925. Before World War II his family lived around the missions at Haasts Bluff and Hermannsburg, meeting Dr Charles Duguid, from whom he received the name Charlie. He travelled extensively, working with the army around Adelaide River south of Darwin during World War II, then as a dogger out of Haasts Bluff, travelling by camel in journeys westward to Pintupi homelands hunting dingoes whose scalps were exchanged for rations. Later in Papunya, in the early days of the painting movement, this extensive experience with Europeans positioned him as the spokesman for the younger Pintupi men. Papunya Tula Artists manager (1980-1) the late Andrew Crocker was friend and admirer and Charlie travelled with him to England in the early ’80s. Crocker subsequently organised a major retrospective of the artist’s work Charlie Tjaruru Tjungurrayi: A Retrospective 1970-1986 (Orange City Council 1987) which toured four Australian states. His usual subjects were Emu, Wallaby, Water and Frog Dreamings and Tingari stories from the Tjitururrnga area.

Writers:

Johnson, Vivien

Date written:

1994

Last updated:

2011