Turkey Tolson was born near Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory. After his initiation into manhood, his family moved to Papunya, where he lived during the early years of the painting movement. He joined Papunya Tula artists as one of its youngest members, painting his earliest artworks for Geoff Bardon in 1972.

During his early period, Turkey Tolson was one of the most innovative and figurative artists of the Papunya Tula movement. In the 1980s, he travelled to Paris with Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri to create a sand painting as part of the Peintres Aborigines d’Australie exhibition. He was elected Chairman of Papunya Tula in 1985 and held this role until 1995.

This painting depicts designs associated with the Two Travelling Women at the rockhole site of Munni Munni, south-east of the Kintore community. The women later journeyed north to Kintore and then north-west to Initi and Pinari. These two women travelled over vast areas of the western desert, stopping at many sites along the way. They sang the songs and performed the dances associated with the places they visited.

Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula

Untitled, 1997

acrylic on linen
153 × 122cm

PROVENANCE

Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory,  Australia

Private Collection, Australia

$14,000

In stock

Turkey Tolson was born near Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory. After his initiation into manhood, his family moved to Papunya, where he lived during the early years of the painting movement. He joined Papunya Tula artists as one of its youngest members, painting his earliest artworks for Geoff Bardon in 1972.

During his early period, Turkey Tolson was one of the most innovative and figurative artists of the Papunya Tula movement. In the 1980s, he travelled to Paris with Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri to create a sand painting as part of the Peintres Aborigines d’Australie exhibition. He was elected Chairman of Papunya Tula in 1985 and held this role until 1995.

This painting depicts designs associated with the Two Travelling Women at the rockhole site of Munni Munni, south-east of the Kintore community. The women later journeyed north to Kintore and then north-west to Initi and Pinari. These two women travelled over vast areas of the western desert, stopping at many sites along the way. They sang the songs and performed the dances associated with the places they visited.