Kaapa Tjampitjinpa b. 1925 Lurumbu,Napperby station, NT, Lurumbu (Napperby station), NT

Also known as:
  • Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa
  • Kaapa Djanbidjimba
  • Artist (Carver) , (Painter)
Anmatyerre/Arrente artist who was the principal painter of the Papunya school mural and a key player in the establishment of Papunya Tula Artists, being the first Chairman. He brought recognition to the group when he won the Caltex Alice Springs Art Award in 1971. His work is represented in major public and private collections.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1994
Name
Kaapa Tjampitjinpa
Also known as:
  • Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa
  • Kaapa Djanbidjimba
Birth date
c.1925
Birth place
Lurumbu,Napperby station, NT, Lurumbu (Napperby station), NT
Death date
October 1989
Death place
None
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Carver)
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • Mt Riddock, NT
  • Lurumbu,Napperby station, NT, Lurumbu (Napperby station), NT
  • c.1980- c.1989 Alice Springs, NT
  • c.1960- c.1989 Papunya, NT
  • Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), NT
Other Occupation
  • Chairman: Papunya Tula Artists
  • Stockman
Active Period
  • c.1971-
Languages
  • English
Is Indigenous
Yes
Heritage Country
  • Mikantji
Dreaming
  • Yam
  • Emu
  • Black Goanna
  • Snake
  • Pelican
  • Witchetty Grub
  • Shield
  • Owl
Initial Record Data Source
  • Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert: A Biographical Dictionary
Copyright
  • Papunya Tula Artists, NT

Kaapa was born on Napperby Station c.1925. He was initiated at Napperby, and subsequently worked there as a stockman. While still in his younger days, he moved to Haasts Bluff, doing stock work at the government cattle station. Kaapa was amongst the 400 people brought across at the start of the ’60s when Papunya settlement was established. An elder of the region, Kaapa’s tribal affiliation was Anmatyerre/Warlpiri/Aranda (the name 'Mbitjana’ is an Arrente skin name corresponding to Tjampitjinpa in the Western Desert system of skin names). His father, born at Warlukurlangu west of Yuendumu, was of mixed Anmatyerre/Warlpiri descent. His mother, who was born at Napperby was Anmatyerre/Aranda. One of Kaapa’s key sites was Mikantji, a rainmaking place near Mt Denison. Other Dreamings which he painted included Owl, Shield, Witchetty Grub, Pelican, Snake (connected with rainmaking rituals), Black Goanna, Emu and Yam. Kaapa had been involved with the inception of the painting movement. His acknowledged mastery of brush technique led to his selection by the other men to paint the mural on the Papunya school wall. As Geoffrey Bardon noted in his account of these events, 'Kaapa Tjampitjinpa had been a most enterprising and independent artist in the traditional manner before my arrival at Papunya.’ (G. Bardon, Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert , {Rigby, 1979}). In August 1971 Kaapa shared first prize in the Alice Springs Caltex Golden Jubilee Art Award and when Papunya Tula Artists was formally incorporated, Kaapa was its inaugural Chairman.

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011
associate of
Johnny Tjupurrula Warangkula
1920
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
1932
Artist (Painter), Artist (Carver)
associate of
Geoffrey Bardon
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Charlie Tjapaltjarri Egalie
1940
associate of
Eunice Napangardi
1950
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Pansy Napangati
1945
Artist (Painter)
sibling of
Dinny Tjampitjinpa Nolan
1930
Artist (Painter), Artist (Printmaker)
associate of
Billy Stockman
1927
Artist (Painter), Artist (Carver)
cousin
associate of
Anatjari Tjakamarra
1935
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Papunya Tula Artists
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
Winparrku Serpents
Date
1974
Made into a tapestry by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, now hanging in the Playhouse Theatre in the Victorian Art Centre.
(Mural)
Date
1971
On Papunya school wall, in collaboration with other artists.
Collections
Recognitions
Alice Springs Caltex Golden Jubilee Art Award
1971
Award
first public recognition of Papunya artists' work
Citations:
  • Bardon, Geoffrey and Bardon, James, (2004), Papunya: A Place Made After the Story; The Beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement, (Place: Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, VIC ISBN-10 : 0-522-85110-X / ISBN-13: 978-0522851106)
  • Johnson, V., (2008), Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists, (Place: IAD Press, Alice Springs, NT ISBN 978 1 86465 090 7url: http://www/iadpress.com) http://www.iadpress.com
  • Bardon, Geoff, (1979), Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert, (Place: Rigby)