What is Papunya Tula Artists?
Q: What is Papunya Tula Artists?
A: Papunya Tula Artists is a co-operative of Aboriginal Australian artists owned and run by Aboriginal people of the Western Desert. It is famous for its development of the Western Desert art movement, also known as "dot painting".
Q: Who started the company in 1971?
A: Geoffrey Bardon, a school teacher at Papunya, was responsible for starting the company in 1971. He taught the children to paint a mural using classical style body and sand art.
Q: What are paintings and designs typically made by Aborigines used for?
A: Paintings and designs made by Aborigines are typically used to depict stories and songs about the dreamtime.
Q: How did some members of the Aboriginal community respond to these works being revealed?
A: Some members of the Aboriginal community criticised the artists for revealing too many secrets from their sacred legends. Aborigines of the Western Desert believe that knowledge of these things is dangerous; usually, a person must be initiated first before they can learn them. In response, the artists changed or removed all detailed images of sacred symbols from their works.
Q: When did many people leave Papunya?
A: Many people left Papunya in late 1970s and moved back to their traditional lands but the company continued to grow and centralised in Alice Springs instead.
Q: What event marked an increase in popularity for this style of art?
A: The National Gallery of Victoria's purchase eleven paintings by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri marked an increase in popularity for this style of art in 1987.
Q: What record was set at auction for Aboriginal art in 2007? A:In 2007, a single painting by Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri set a record at auction for Aboriginal art when it was bought for £1.03 million
