Charlie was born in c.1949 at Palinpalintjanya, north west of Juniper Well. Charlie in 1964, as a fully initiated young man, moved with his family to Papunya. It was here that he found himself working in construction of the settlement in exchange for rations.
Charlie commenced painting for Papanya Tula in 1978, after having quietly observed the older men for years. Charlie travelled to the USA for an exhibition in the following years with well-known Aboriginal Artist Billy Stockman.
In 1982 Charlie moved to the Pintupi settlement of Kintore.
His works generally depict the significant ceremonial story of the Tingari Cycle. The surface narrative elements that are often termed the painting’s ‘story’ or ‘Dreaming’ are only one level of an Aboriginal painting’s true significance. The imagery employed by Aboriginal artists has a deep cultural resonance that often defies simple logic or narrative interpretation. The western viewer can, however, intuitively feel the power of this spiritual resonance without necessarily having to understand the details, which are essentially for the initiated only.
Collections
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Holmes a’ Court Collection
The Kelton Foundation, California, USA
Public & Private Collections
