Imants Tillers and Kumantye (M.N.) Jagamara, The Call from Papunya, 2018, 202.2 × 283.5 cm. Tate, London
We are thrilled to announce that ‘The Call from Papunya’ (2018) has been acquired by Tate, London. The painting is one of 16 collaborative works completed by Kumantye (M.N.) Jagamara and IMANTS TILLERS over the past two decades. This is the second work by Imants to be acquired, following the acquisition of ‘Kangaroo Blank’ (1988) in 2018, and the first work by Jagamara to be acquired by Tate.
The central element in ‘The Call from Papunya’ is Possum Love Story – a tale of forbidden love which has been told for thousands of years in Jagamara’s Warlpiri tradition. It is one of the five stories depicted in his iconic painting ‘Five Dreamings’ (1984).
Imants has expanded the central image with line-work referencing both the Papunya artist Kenny Williams and the Italian Metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico. Fragments of philosophy and poetry have also been incorporated.
The painting’s title refers to Jagamara’s habit of calling Brisbane daily (and occasionally Cooma) on the public telephone at Papunya general store, to chat about his work, enquire about projects, update his needs for shopping or simply to give a weather report.