Indigenous Art of the Dreamtime
Malcolm Jagamarra
The Honourable Mr. E.G. Whitlam AC QC,
Malcolm Jagamarra, The Honourable Mr. A. Peacock AC, Embassy of Australia, Washington Dc,
April 1999, Tjinytjilpa The Dotted Design exhibition opening.
“I will always acknowledge that the spiritualism of this great continent is forever
embedded in its natural environment and that as indigenous peoples we are custodians of
its sacred religions.”
Malcolm Jagamarra was born in the Australian Outback in 1955. He is the son of Minnie
Napanangka, a Warlpiri woman, and Gerry Maloney an Irish Bushman. As a child he travelled
the land on walkabout with his mother and families. They lived a traditional way which is
over 40,000 years old.
54. Ngapa, Lightning Dreaming 1996, 116.5 x 91.5cm
At the time, as part of the ‘Aboriginal Assimilation
Program’, all part Aboriginal children were taken from their families and placed in
white environments. Because of this, Jagamarra’s mother would hide him in the bush
whenever they visited a white homestead.
At the age of six, Jagamarra was discovered by the authorities and taken to Adelaide where
he spent the next eighteen years.
He matriculated from Adelaide Boys High School in 1972 and starred in League Football for
North Adelaide until 1975. In 1978 he returned to Alice Springs and was reunited with his
family for the first time since 1960. In 1983 Jagamarra underwent manhood initiation
ceremonies he had missed as a boy. It was then that he learnt the secret songs and dances
of his tribe, the Lander River Warlpiri.
Jagamarra’s art evolved from his tribe’s ceremonies. Aboriginal paintings were
originally daubed on the ground and on the bodies of the people and so were not preserved.
Since 1971 they have been transferred onto canvas.
“It has given everyone a chance to learn about Aboriginal Dreaming”, says
Jagamarra. “Our art reflects not just the land but its mythology, song and
dance.” The symbols are called “iconography” and are the oldest in the
world.
Jagamarra was the first Aboriginal Artist to use oils on his paintings and he is the
leader in his style. He is considered to be one of the most talented and dynamic
Aboriginal artists working in Australia and has been instrumental in forging new
directions for traditional art.
55. Wantaparri 1998, 150 x 148.5 cm
His sister, Janet Long Nakamarra, is one of the rising stars of the Australian Aboriginal
art world and together they are helping to foster, explain and retain their ancient
culture. Malcolm’s art has been widely exhibited throughout the world and features in
many international collections. In 1999 his paintings were featured in Rome and
Washington. He attended and spoke at both of those exhibitions.
56. Pirla Warna Warna 1998, 130 x 97.5cm
57. Pirla Warna Warna, Owl Dreaming 1999, 233 x 177cm
|