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"MEN'S CEREMONY"
89.5 cm x 67.5 cm
Acrylic on linen 1995
$Aud7,000 + GST 10% for sales
in Australia
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Dreaming
This
painting depicts a Dreaming story which is directly related to sacred men's
initiation ceremonies. The custodians of this Dreaming are the Japaltjarri and
Jungurrayi skin groups (father and son).
The concentric
circles depict the sites where the Corroboree (sacred ceremony) takes
place near Mount Denison. North west of Alice Springs, Mount Denison is
situated near Papunya.
The 'U' shapes
on either side depict the men being initiated. All the symbols and
iconography in the painting represent the various sites and body paint designs.
Due to the
sacred aspects of this painting no further details may be given.
BILLY STOCKMAN TJAMAPLTJARRI
One
of the greatest of the seminal ‘art mob’ from the early 1970’s at
Papunya, Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri is a proud family man from the
Anmatyerre people in Central Australia. He grew up at Napperby Station
and Aileron and went through his initiation ceremonies there. Later his
role at the infamous Papunya community varied from being a cook to
helping the Pintupi people settle in to community life. Later, of
course, he became one of the legendary founders of the Aboriginal art
movement in 1971.
His paintings provide a link with that historic moment at Papunya and
all that went before. These days ill health prevents Billy from painting
but he is a familiar site in Alice Springs where he now resides.
Orphaned as an infant as a result of the Coniston massacre in 1928,
Billy was raised by his aunt, Clifford Possum's mother. He recalls
stories of that fearful time at Coniston,This
was Billy Stockman’s first contact with white people.
In 1971 Geoffrey Bardon a white school teacher assigned to the Papunya
School initiated a project to paint a mural using the Aboriginal colours
and traditional iconography. This dreaming represented in the wall
painting was the dominant western desert story
"Honey Ant Dreaming". Two elders, Old Mick Tjakamarra
and Old Tom Onion ‘gave’ the legend to the school and Billy together
with Kaapa Tjampitjinpa and Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra carried out
the painting. Their work became the first Central Desert art to be
exhibited publicly and set in motion the amazing phenomenon that has
unfolded over the past three decades. Following a catastrophic,
beaurcratic decision this most important mural was destroyed less than
one year after its completion.
Billy Stockman has emerged as one of the most prolific and important
Aboriginal painters of this time. His work, sprung from the world's
oldest continuous culture, still stands alone, and its very essence is
one of intrinsic spirituality. The powerful and heroic dreaming symbols
of his paintings are charged with authority and religious knowledge. The
animated texture of his work is anchored by a metaphysical core and a
deep affinity with the land.
Billy has visited the USA on several occasions, most notably in 1988
when his work was included in the huge “Dreamings; the Art of
Aboriginal Australia” exhibition at the Asia Society Galleries in New
York. During that visit this senior Anmatyerre man also performed
ceremonial dances with Michael Nelson Jagamara.
In recent years the Australian National Gallery in Canberra has acquired
his paintings. He is represented in major institutions such as the New
South Wales Art Gallery, Art Gallery of South Australia, and the University of WA Anthropology Museum. Other collections
include Artbank Sydney, Jinta Desert Art Gallery Sydney, Victorian Arts
Centre, Aboriginal Art Galleries of Australia Melbourne, Aboriginal
Desert Art Gallery Alice Springs, Christensen Collection, held at the
Museum of Victoria. Donald
Kahn collection, Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Museum and Art
Gallery of the Northern Territory, The Holmes a Court Collection, and
The Kelton Foundation Santa Monica U.S.A.
Recognised now as one of Australia's most exceptional indigenous
painters, Billy Stockman Japaltjarri
has, through his paintings, helped to introduce Aboriginal
culture to many people throughout the world.
©
Jinta Desert Art 2001 |
