Kimberley Ochre Artists

Gallery 1

30 May – 9 July 2014

 

Joalingi – Round Hills by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Joalingi – Round Hills

Jap 010411  |  ochre on linen  |  120 x 90 cm

Sold

Winnaba Springs by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Winnaba Springs

Jap 010410  |  ochre on canvas  |  121 x 91 cm

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Texas Downs by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Texas Downs

Jap 009464  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  62 x 46 cm

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Bow River to Sallybutte by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Bow River to Sallybutte

Jap 006338  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Jimirowen – Kimberley Star, Gold Country by Shirley Bray

Shirley Bray  |  Jimirowen – Kimberley Star, Gold Country

Jap 000940  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

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Limbinbari Hills by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Limbinbari Hills

Jap 006140  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  76 x 56 cm

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Two Boobook Owls by Nancy Nodea

Nancy Nodea  |  Two Boobook Owls

Jap 006821  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

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Hills Country by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Hills Country

Jap 006143  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  35 x 26 cm

Sold

Road To Ngantalarra by Mark Nodea

Mark Nodea  |  Road To Ngantalarra

Jap 000705  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Joomaling – Bottle Tree by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Joomaling – Bottle Tree

Jap 006142  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  55 x 38 cm

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Bungle Bungles Wet Season by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Bungle Bungles Wet Season

Jap 010407  |  ochre on canvas  |  50 x 40 cm

Sold

Daiwul – Barramundi Dreaming by Shirley Purdie

Shirley Purdie  |  Daiwul – Barramundi Dreaming

Jap 010406  |  ochre on linen  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Maralla Gorge by Jock Mosquito

Jock Mosquito  |  Maralla Gorge

Jap 000312  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

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Black Lightning by Lily Karadada

Lily Karadada   |  Black Lightning

Jap 000617  |  ochre on canvas  |  100 x 76 cm

Devil Man Mountain by Jock Mosquito

Jock Mosquito  |  Devil Man Mountain

Jap 000310  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

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Lightning Wadjina by Lily Karadada

Lily Karadada  |  Lightning Wadjina

Jap 006144  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  77 x 57 cm

Purnululu Wet Time by Charlene Carrington

Charlene Carrington  |  Purnululu Wet Time

Jap 006822  |  ochre on canvas  |  91 x 62 cm

Sold

Kurtal by David Downs

David Downs  |  Kurtal

Jap 010521  |  ochre on linen  |  182 x 123 cm

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Kurtal by David Downs

David Downs  |  Kurtal

Jap 009885  |  acrylic and ochre on board  |  120 x 60 cm

Bedford Station by Rover Thomas

Rover Thomas  |  Bedford Station

Jap 006654  |  ochre on board  |  183 x 91.5 cm

Sold

Lissadell by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Lissadell

Jap 006538  |  ochre on canvas  |  200 x 120 cm

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Cross Roads, Argyle Hill by Rover Thomas

Rover Thomas  |  Cross Roads, Argyle Hill

Jap 010522  |  ochre on linen  |  196 x 113 cm

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Wandjina Rain Spirit by Lily Karadada

Lily Karadada  |  Wandjina Rain Spirit

Jap 010405  |  ochre on linen  |  181 x 100 cm

Sold

Boolanji – Fish Hole by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Boolanji – Fish Hole

Jap 006148  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  105 x 65 cm

Ngarwalabing by Shirley Purdie

Shirley Purdie  |  Ngarwalabing

Jap 010409  |  ochre on linen  |  120 x 90 cm

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Big Cyclone Story by Mercy Fredericks

Mercy Fredericks  |  Big Cyclone Story

Jap 006590  |  ochre on canvas  |  94 x 77 cm

North of Speewah by Tommy Carroll

Tommy Carroll  |  North of Speewah

Jap 000980  |  ochre on canvas  |  125 x 90 cm

Sold

Wandjina by Mercy Fredericks

Mercy Fredericks  |  Wandjina

Jap 006607  |  ochre on canvas  |  79 x 59 cm

Sold

Toolookwuning by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Toolookwuning

Jap 010412  |  ochre on board  |  68 x 40 cm

Adavale by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Adavale

Jap 005852  |  ochre on canvas  |  150 x 90 cm

Sold

Birrno – Alice Downs Station by Gordon Barney

Gordon Barney  |  Birrno – Alice Downs Station

Jap 000233  |  ochre on canvas  |  140 x 100 cm

Sold

Inverway by Ned Johns

Ned Johns  |  Inverway

Jap 000816  |  ochre on linen  |  118 x 88 cm

Limilura by Jack Macale

Jack Macale   |  Limilura

Jap 010050  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 89 cm

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Archie Creek Rugan by Phyllis Thomas

Phyllis Thomas  |  Archie Creek Rugan

Jap 004234  |  ochre on canvas  |  92 x 92 cm

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Untitled by Hector Jandanay

Hector Jandanay  |  Untitled

Jap 010496  |  ochre on linen  |  135 x 122 cm

Purnululu – Top Way by Nora Nagarra

Nora Nagarra  |  Purnululu – Top Way

Jap 003955  |  ochre an canvas  |  100 x 100 cm

Sold

Texas Hills – Tribute to Queenie by Nancy Nodea

Nancy Nodea  |  Texas Hills – Tribute to Queenie

Jap 005263  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60cm

Sold

Body Paint – Barramundi Dreaming by Phyllis Thomas

Phyllis Thomas  |  Body Paint – Barramundi Dreaming

Jap 005658  |  Ochre on canvas  |  100 x 100 cm

Sold

Doweloo – Dalarji Junction by Henry Wambini

Henry Wambini  |  Doweloo – Dalarji Junction

Jap 010495  |  ochre on linen  |  160 x 140 cm

Sold

Untitled by Billy Thomas

Billy Thomas  |  Untitled

Jap 010503  |  ochre on canvas  |  70 x 50 cm

Sunrise over Purnululu by Sade Carrington

Sade Carrington  |  Sunrise over Purnululu

Jap 000927  |  ochre on canvas  |  100 x 76 cm

Untitled by Billy Thomas

Billy Thomas  |  Untitled

Jap 009465  |  ochre on canvas  |  60.5 x 45.5 cm

Sold

Purnululu by Nora Nagarra

Nora Nagarra  |  Purnululu

Jap 000826  |  ochre on linen  |  82 x 57 cm

Sold

Dance Time by Peggy Griffiths

Peggy Griffiths  |  Dance Time

Jap 010408  |  ochre on canvas  |  75 x 45 cm

Untitled by Mabel Juli

Mabel Juli  |  Untitled

Jap 009690  |  ochre on canvas  |  61 x 76 cm

Sold

Wandjina by Mercy Fredericks

Mercy Fredericks  |  Wandjina

Jap 010606  |  ochre on canvas  |  81 x 58 cm

Sold

Calico Springs by Shirley Purdie

Shirley Purdie  |  Calico Springs

Jap 009681  |  ochre on canvas  |  61 x 76 cm

Sold

Cangin and Wartal – Moon and Stars by Nancy Nodea

Nancy Nodea  |  Cangin and Wartal – Moon and Stars

Jap 006133  |  ochre on linen  |  100 x 61 cm

Sold

Picinninny Creek by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Picinninny Creek

Jap 009688  |  ochre on linen  |  40 x 40 cm

Sold

Wandjina by Mercy Fredericks

Mercy Fredericks  |  Wandjina

Jap 010607  |  ochre on canvas  |  78 x 57 cm

Sold

Gwion Gwion by Regina Karadada

Regina Karadada  |  Gwion Gwion

Jap 006589  |  ochre on canvas  |  95 x 77 cm

Sold

Aboriginal art in the Kimberley region of north-west Western Australia maintains a strong regional character and unique approach to subject and image that sets it apart from all other art styles within the Aboriginal art world.

The deeply entrenched cultural practice behind the rock art found in sacred ceremonial places has fed into the contemporary art of the western and coastal groups of artists, including Wunumbul, Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Kwini clan groups. Senior lawmen of these countries were still refreshing ancient rock art sites up until current times. The transition into painting on canvas has carried many of the symbols and stories from the sacred rock art sites into contemporary art galleries. Major artists expressed the Wandjina, Ungudd and Gwion Gwion spirit stories onto canvas and represented in this exhibition are Lily Karadada, Mercy Fredericks, Regina Karadada and Jack Dale Mengenen.

Kalumburu artists had established their own style in interpreting the paintings of Wandjina spirit figures in the 1970s, and this has been carried through in the work of Lily Karadada, whose long career sees her still producing some artworks. The family has produced many artists and Regina Karadada continues this tradition with her rather solid images of Wandjinas and Gyorn Gyorn (Bradshaw figures). Mercy Fredericks is amongst a new generation of Kalumburu artists taking on the great ochre techniques from their community.

The great ochre painting tradition of the East Kimberley is centred on Warmun and Kununurra communities, and emerges from both rock art painting and from body painting and ceremonial dance boards used in ritual occasions. The contemporary East Kimberley tradition was stimulated by the ceremonial painters at Turkey Creek (Warmun), when in the 1970s Paddy Jaminji and Rover Thomas painted the Krill Krill dance boards, and artists such as Jock Mosquito and Freddie Timms learned the skills that carried through into the new century. Henry Wambini, Hector Jandanay and Jack Britten were senior figures in Warmun and Britten created his own hub of artists around Frog Hollow community. Mark Nodea and Tommy Carroll were recipients of these elders’ knowledge amongst the next younger generation. Queenie McKenzie established her own great narrative qualities and other women Gija artists joined her, including Goody Barrett, Shirlie Purdie, Phyllis Thomas, Nancy Nodea, and later Sade Carrington, Nora Nagarra and Jane Yalunga, the daughter of Rover Thomas.

These artists drew their subjects from traditional stories and Ngarrankarni Dreamings, as well as from historical events that had marked the relationships between Aboriginal people and white settlers all across the Kimberley. Many of the paintings drew attention to the hardships and the alternate history that is the largely untold story of Aboriginal existence in the Kimberley districts during the twentieth century.

The Kimberley soils are a rich source of the iron based ochre pigments that have been used by Aboriginal artists for millennia. Ancient rock paintings of the Gwion Gwion figures painted in red oxide have been dated back at least 18,000 years. Ochre paints continue to be used for rock painting and body decoration in ceremonies today.

Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links

Rover Thomas Paintings
David Downs Paintings
Jack Britten Paintings
Lily Karadada Paintings
Freddie Timms Paintings
Jack Dale Mengenen Paintings
Jock Mosquito Paintings
Regina Karadada Paintings
Mercy Fredericks Paintings