Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
Biography
Born: 1932 – Anmatyerre language/tribe
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, youngest son of One Pound Jimmy Tjungurrayi and Long Rose Nangala was born in a creek bed at Napperby Station about 200 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.
His father, a senior Anmatyerre tribesman, was born at the site of Ngarlu (Ngwerritye Alatiye) west of Mt Allen. His mother came from Warlugalong, south-west of Yuendumu. The name ‘Possum’ was given to Clifford by his paternal grandfather. Clifford recieved no formal education, growing up in the bush and then at Jay Creek during the late 1940s. He did stock work at various stations across the Centre including Hamilton Downs, Glen Helen, Mt Wedge, Mt Allen and Napperby.
Clifford Possum was a member of a group of three Papunya artists who experimented with paintings based on traditional Western Desert motifs during the late 1960s. He was one of the last men to join Geoffrey Bardon’s group of ‘painting men’ at the beginning of the 1970s – with the encouragement of his brother, Tim Leura. Clifford Possum was already a woodcarver of reknown, and had been employed at the Papunya school teaching woodcarving to the children. He was chairman of ‘Papunya Tula Artists’ during the lates 1970s and early 1980s.
He and his family lived in Papunya, Napperby Station, Umbungurru outstation near Glen helen, and then Alice Springs from the mid 1980s. Towards the end of his life Clifford divided his time between Alice Springs and the homes of oh his daughters, Gabriella Possum and Michelle Possum, in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Clifford had a vast repertoire of dreamings that he painted, including Possum, Fire, Water, Kangaroo, Fish, Snake, Man’s Love Story, Lightning, Mala, Goanna and Honey Ant.
Two Kungas
Acrylic on Canvas
Clifford died in Alice Springs on 21st June 2002. Posthumously his dreamings have been drawings have recieved a lot of attention and his works are some of the most sought out today.
Artwork featured at Mia Mia
Men’s Ceremony
Acrylic on Canvas 89 x 93 cm
Our Country – A collaborative effort with daughters Gabriella & Michelle.
Digital Print 72 x 97 cm
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