Indigenous Art of the Dreamtime

Michael Jakamara Nelson

Michael Nelson is a ‘second-wave’ Papunya painter who is carrying on the traditions of his people in a dignified and thorough manner. He is regarded by his contemporaries of something of a ‘role model’ and is a consistent producer of top quality paintings in the ‘Papunya’ style. He has not been tempted to modify his painting manner even though other centres such as Lajamanu and Yuendumu have, in his time, produced successful painters who have worked in a looser manner.

58. Five Dreamings 1996, 132 x 59.5cm

Michael’s paintings are clear, controlled and distinctive. He has a wide following in the market place. Although he was born west of Yuendumu at Pikilyi, Vaughan Springs, Michael lived at Haasts Bluff prior to moving to Papunya in 1976. Both his mother and father were Walpiri people. He received a European education at Yuendumu and left school aged 13 to work at buffalo shooting and cattle droving. During that same period Michael underwent initiation to learn his song cycles and dreamings. His father was an important tribal elder and medicine man at Yuendumu and it was therefore almost automatic that he would grow up with the traditional values and knowledge that now permeate his paintings.

He learned to paint at Papunya by watching the senior men such as Billy Stockman and Old Mick Tjakamarra. Although he was also tutored by his uncle, Jack Tjupurrula, Michael evolved his own style and began to make his own work from 1983. His dreamings include the Yam, Possum, Two Kangaroos, Flying Ant and Snake. Their images, mostly in pure symbolic form, occur regularly in his paintings. By 1987 Michael had been asked to paint a major work (27’long) to adorn the foyer of Sydney’s Opera House. He chose to paint his ‘Possum Dreaming’ story.

A great highlight of his career came the following year when he was commissioned to design a 196sq-metre mosaic for Australia’s new parliament house in Canberra. The work was based on his ‘Kangaroo and Emu’ dreaming. When the building was officially opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Michael was presented to her.

Prior to that time he had won the 1984 National Aboriginal Art Award and had had his work exhibited in the 1986 Biennale of Sydney. One of his major works is ‘Five Stories’ which was reproduced on the catalogue cover for the Asia Society’s exhibition, ‘Dreamings, The Art of Aboriginal Australia’, in New York during 1988-89. His participation in that exhibition included a ground painting and ceremonial dance which he executed in conjunction with the Papunya elder, Billy Stockman.

The great appeal of Michael’s art may also be judged by the commission he undertook in 1989 when he painted a BMW, M3 racing car by hand. In 1993 The Australian Government saw fit to award him the Australia Medal for his services to Aboriginal art.

59. Seven Dreamings 1997, 125 x 123cm

60. Warna Wardapi 1996, 174 x 113cm

61. Water Dreaming 1997, 231 x 122.5cm