Papunya Tjupi
Exhibition dates: Tue 21 June to Sat 9 July 2011
View the artworks
In 1972 the male elders of the various language groups then resident at Papunya instigated the now renowned Papunya Tula Artists to sell and market their paintings on their behalf. In the early 1990’s Papunya Tula moved it’s operation to Kintore and Kwiirrkurra, west of Papunya. Warumpi Arts was established in Alice Springs by the Papunya Community Council in 1994. The closure of Warumpi Arts in 2004 by the Council left the majority of Papunya artists with no representation and at the mercy of private dealers.
In October 2005 the Papunya artists approached the highly regards and respected Professor Vivien Johnson to help them establish, for the first time, a ‘community-based art centre’ in Papunya. The project’s future was initially uncertain, but through the commitment of the artists and community it has evolved into a ‘fully fledged’ art centre.
The reputation of Papunya Tjupi, located 240km north west of Alice Springs, is steadily growing and its artists and achieving financial security through sales with the assistance of external funding.
Support for the new art centre was also received from the Papunya Community Council, government agencies and regional representative bodies. Desart (Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres).