Bruce Tjinpun Parker recalls his early nomadic life of movement across the vast landscape of the Great Victoria Desert. He describes his painterly composition as ‘his country’ and names the important sites of Walunya, Talala, and Kampurara Piti as places where he would stop with his immediate family for extended periods. Bruce talks of living on a healthy bush tucker diet including damper made from grinding up grass seeds and wayunu (quandong), arnguli (plum), tjala (honey ant), tjanmata (bush onion), tingka (sand goanna), malu (kangaroo), rabbit and anamara (catapillar). For Bruce, painting allows him access to memories that would otherwise continue to become distant.
Tjinpun was born in the bush outside of Irrunytju and to the north of Spinifex country at a significant site called Mamutjara. He describes a childhood period when his family walked around ‘nikiti’, meaning without clothing, living a traditional life in the bush. Later the family moved to Ernabella mission where Tjinpun attended school. He was initiated in Pukatja (Ernabella) as a young man.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
