A Life Rooted in the Bush
Born around 1920 at a rockhole called Piltati in what is now Nyapaṟi, north-west South Australia, Tiger Palpatja lived a traditional, nomadic life in the bushland. As a member of the Pitjantjatjara people, his early years were spent in the landscape of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. His family eventually settled at the Ernabella mission and sheep station, where he grew up and learned to speak some English. For many years, he lived in Ernabella with his wife, Nyalapanytja, working on the station by shearing sheep and building fences. Later in life, he moved to Amaṯa and became a ngangkaṟi, a respected traditional healer within his community.
The Emergence of a Painter
Though he was known for woodworking and making spears, Tiger Palpatja did not begin painting until September 2004. His work quickly gained recognition, leading to several prestigious recognitions, including being a finalist for the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011. He was also a finalist in the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards in 2009 and 2011. His paintings often depict sacred Dreaming stories from Piltati, specifically the creation story of two sisters and their husbands who transformed into Wanampi, or giant water snakes. Unlike many artists of the Western Desert who use natural ochre, his works are characterized by their bright colours.
