Collection: Thomspon Nganjmirra
Thompson Nganjmirra is the son of Jimmy Nakkurridjdjilmi Nganjmirra and the brother of Robin Nganjmirra, two very highly regarded aboriginal artists. Robins work is held in all the major collections and today his paintings fetch very high prices.
Thompson was born in Oenpelli, but spent much of his younger years growing up in his home Country. He attended school at Oenpelli for some time, but Thompson had his heart set on being a great painter like his father. His paintings these days have a distinct appearance to that of his father, but do not incorporate the artistic flair of his brother Robin.
Thompson is married with a number of children, having lost two children in a car accident. Thompson can be a prolific painter and his work has made some famous collections, including the foyer of Parliament House in Canberra.
Thompson has not traveled in relation to his art. Many of Thompsons paintings feature Luma Luma. Luma Luma was a dreamtime spirit that originated from the Asian region, coming to Arnhem land via the Crocodile Islands. Luma Luma was a vicious man who when traveling throughout an area would attack camps, having lustful relations with the women and killing and eating the men if they objected. Luma Luma had two wives, and they are often depicted in the paintings. These two women were very wise in the making of conical fish traps and often showed others how to make them. Luma Luma was eventually killed by a group of men who lured him to a place where he was speared by all present. Luma Luma is the most sacred of the Djalama Clan Dreamings.
