Tjitji (children's) gathering place
WARNING: Visitors should be aware that this website includes images and names of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Children's tjuupi (honey ant) trail
Explore ten art works from the Papunya Painting: Out of the Desert exhibition through our tjuupi (honey ant) trail. The Papunya artists use different symbols to paint Dreaming stories. These symbols include circles, journey lines and bird and animal tracks, and can have many meanings.
Also explore the line diagrams and more information about the works
All works are copyright the artists or their estates and are licensed by Aboriginal Artists Agency 2007. They must not be reproduced in any form without permission.
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Mala and the Bad Uncles at Tjikarri [II], 1974, Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula
This painting and the previous one tell the same Dreaming story about a dingo, a kingfisher and wallabies.
Can you see the tracks of these animals in both the paintings?
What is similar about these paintings? What is different?
Which one do you like best? Why?
Watunuma (Flying Ant Dreaming), 1976, Kaapa Tjampitjinpa
Look at this painting from different angles and with your eyes half closed.
Do the dots, colours or patterns look as if they are moving or changing?
Many Aboriginal paintings appear to 'shimmer' when we look at them. Maybe our eyes play tricks on us or maybe the paintings are magic!
Travels of the Mala (Hare Wallaby), 1976, Timmy Jugadai Tjungurrayi
This painting is about a wallaby from the Dreaming. Sometimes the wallaby moved quickly and sometimes it moved slowly.
Look at the tracks made by its feet and tail. Where do you think the wallaby was moving quickly?
Where was it moving slowly and dragging its tail?
Dreaming Story at Warlugulong (Warlukurlangu), 1976, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
Can you see the bushfire?
What colours have been used to show the fire, the burnt ground and the ash?
What do you think this fire would sound like?
Can you imagine the heat of the fire?
Storm Camps on the Rain Dreaming Trail, 1978, Kaapa Tjampitjinpa
Imagine you are high in the sky looking down on the storm below.
Can you see the lightning and hail moving across the sky.
Find the white and black clouds that have gathered.
Perentie (Lizard), 1980, Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri
Desert lizards often use camouflage to hide from other animals and keep themselves safe.
What camouflage does this lizard have?
Do you think it would be well-hidden in desert country?
How has the artist made this lizard look as though it is walking?
