160-25 – Tjatjati – MIRIAM BAADJO

Artist : MIRIAM BAADJO
Title : Tjatjati
Size/Medium : 914 x 610mm: acrylic on canvas Painting

Miriam began her artistic journey by exploring Tjukurpa (creation stories and lore) through glass and screen printing at the Adult Education Centre.

After receiving permission from Elders to paint, she turned to her Uncle Wimmitji Tjapangarti’s (c.1921–2000) Dreaming stories, infusing her works with the profound spirituality he shared with her as a young girl.

A vibrant and traditional woman, Miriam’s paintings reflect her deep commitment to cultural knowledge and her passion for colour mixing and refining her technical skills. Her works have been widely exhibited in group exhibitions both nationally and internationally.

Notably, her painting ‘Watkutjarra’ inspired composer Nora Lewis to create a musical piece titled ‘Onsight’, performed by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. Miriam also travelled to Tokyo, Japan for the Motika Project, where she painted an Audi motorcar alongside fellow Balgo artists like Helicopter Tjungurrayi and Imelda Yukenbarri. In December 2024, she collaborated with Bhil artist Gangu Bai in Mumbai, India, creating a mural at the renowned Sassoon Dock.

Miriam has been a finalist in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), and her glass work is part of the Art Gallery of Western Australia collection.

Miriam has depicted a story told by her Uncle Wimmitji which took place in Tjatjati, north of Jupiter Well.

In the centre there are two eggs which were sung by Marparn men (healers) in a big Tingarri dreaming ceremony.

They called on the native cat spirit near a sacred rock hole – also depicted in the centre. Two babies were born from the eggs from that ceremony. The oval shapes surrounding the eggs are Marparn men.