Author Koh Lin ◦
“Art for art’s sake” or l’art pour l’art… is a phrase describing a philosophy that art should be valued for its inherent beauty and aesthetic qualities, that is independent of any social, moral, or political purpose. Yet art can be more then art, it can be multifaceted and it can be personal to the viewer, overlaid with the viewers own experiences and memories attached to it…
Why do we enjoy art, why do we buy art… for some it is what touches them, some want to surround themselves and own it, others just want an investment or it could be a combination of any or all of the aforementioned things…
At home we are surrounded by artworks… paintings hanging on the walls… each piece acquired, gifted or purchased… each art piece having their own stories…
So let me start at the beginning… when I was living in Sydney on the east coast of Australia, my encounter with art was through galleries and musuems. I don’t recall actually buying or owning any original artwork, I only had posters adorning my apartment walls. Whilst we were in Sydney, we became acquainted and then friends with Chris, who was on holidays from the UK. Chris would love to visit the second hand shops in Sydney, acquiring a few things (that he gifted to us), such as enamel cloisonne bowls, Japanese green glazed vase with brass wire lattice and a portrait painting by an unknown artist on fibreboard…
1. Portrait of Unknown
My father, who liked the painting, did research the artwork, but was unable to find out any information.
The painting came to Alice Springs with us and now hangs on our wall with many of our other paintings… so this blog is sort of a stroll through our live-in gallery. I was quite shocked when I counted the number of works we had hanging (not counting the works that were still rolled up – no wall space 😀)
2. Goanna Calling For RaiN by Trephina Sultan
This painting by Trephina Sultan Thanguwa was based on a photograph of a goanna in the Breakaways, which I have spoken about before in the blog Intertwined…
3. Bush Honey by Trephina Sultan
We were learning a lot about the culture and the landscape here in Central Australia. Bush foods was a very interesting subject that is popular with many Aboriginal artist. This painting by Trephina was painted especially for us and is titled Bush Honey, a sweet nectar which comes from the Honey Grevillea (Grevillea eriostachya).
As I write this blog, the Bush Honey hangs to my left and right in front of me (behind my computer monitor) is a painting by Raymond Walters Japanangka (now known as Raymond Walters Penangke), titled Bush Damper Seed Dreaming.
4. Bush Damper Seed Dreaming by Raymond Walters Japanangka
Raymond told us that this painting represents the tiny seeds that are harvested and grounded on flat grinding stones to make flour for bush bread (damper). It is important to havest the plants before the small seeds are lost in the sand. The painting depicts the broken stems and seeds that is harvested, before the seed is grounded. This Dreaming belongs to Raymond’s late grandmother of Utopia Alhalkerre (boundary Bore) in Central Australia.
5. Untitled, 2007 by David Mpetyane
David Mpetyane, whose mother is Arrernte custodian Mrs Doris Stuart, paints in a visual language. Born in Alice Springs in 1963, he passed away in 2008.
In this early untiltled work by David, he had gifted it to Trephina Sultan, who then gifted it to us for our support and friendship back in those early years.
6. Bush Potato Dreaming, 2007 © Edward Jangala Smith
In this painting by Edward Jangala Smith, titled Bush Potato Dreaming (Travelling all over Country), the artist paints Yarla or Bush Potato, the fibrous tubers that grow under ground, it’s presence revealed by the tendrils and flower that are above ground. The bush potato is an important food source for Aboriginal people, and when cooked are soft and tasty.
7. Kapi-Nguru (From Water), 2013 by Trephina Sultan
In this stunning painting Kapi-Nguru (From Water), with the crisp monochromatic contrast (and like many of Trephina’s works that can be hung in any direction), you can feel the rhythm of water pulsating through the land, creating the creeks, channels, streams and rivers.
8. Ankerre Jukurrpa (Emu Feathers) by Raymond Walters
This painting is titled Ankerre Jukurrpa (Emu Feathers) by Raymond Walters Penangke (formerly Raymond Walters Japanangka), and is his way of sharing Anmatyerre Culture and Customary Law, that have been passed on to him by his grandparents and family members. This is Emu Dreaming, of which he is a custodian and spiritual ancestor.
“(The) emu it’s a big encyclopaedia collection, where books belong to language groups, chapters belong to all these clan groups and we’re custodian of one chapter, so we are not allowed to paint any of the other stories , we’re a part of a big encyclopaedia collection. We are a link in the chain.”
9. Country, 2010 by Trephina Sultan
Titled “Country“, Trephina Sultan paints this art work from her home at the time in Alice Springs. In ochre colours, the painting depicts a multitude of meanings from the dry creeks and river beds across the land, an aerial view of “Country” and stories from the dreaming that have been passed down to her.
10. Spinifex 2002 (Limited Edition) by Dorothy Napangardi
A limited edition etching titled “Spinifex 2002” by the international renowned Dorothy Napangardi, depicts the lyrical movement of the giant spinifex (Triodia longiceps) as the wind blows through it. These are giant spinifex that an grow taller than people in the artist’s custodial country of Mina Mina located near Lake Mackay on the border of Northern Territory and Western Australia.
This limited edition etching is from a collection of works that Dorothy Napangardi did through the gallery of her friend Roslyn Premont (Gallery Gondwana). This C/P edition was gifted to Greg by Roslyn.
Catalogue No: DN-4.1
White on black
Plates created: 2002
Limited Edition: 99
Image Size: 20 x 25 cm
Paper size: 36 x 40 cm
Medium: Limited Edition Print
Paper: Hahnemuhle
Studio: Northern Editions, NTU, Darwin, NT
Printer: Simon White, Northern Editions
Publisher: Gallery Gondwana
11. Tjanpi Kampanyi (Burning Grass), 2007 by Trephina Sultan
This story Tjanpi Kampanyi (Burning Grass) is one of Trephina’s popular works. It is the story of “how for generations our people have burnt off the bush land for hunting purposes, safety and regrowth”.
12. Bush Coconut, 2008 by Archie
We met Archie in Todd Mall in Alice Springs. He was born at Napperby Station, his language is Anmatjere and his country is Ti Tree / Anmatjere region. His painting was about the bush coconut that grows on ‘Country’.
13. Salt Series DN-9 (Limited Edition) by Dorothy Napangardi
This Limited Edition Etching depicts a major women’s ceremonial site known as Mina Mina, the artist’s custodial country located near Lake Mackay in the Tanami Desert, north of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory. During the Jukurrpa Ancestral women of the Napangardi and Napanangka sub-section groups (aunt / niece relationship, in which knowledge is passed from one to the other) gathered to collect ceremonial digging sticks (Karlangu) that had emerged from the ground. They then proceeded east, performing rituals of song and dance, to the place known as Jankinyi. A large belt of trees (Allocasuarina decaisneana) now stand where these digging sticks once were.
Topographically, the sacred site of Mina Mina is made up of two enormous soakage areas that, rarely filled with water, exist as clay-pans. As water soaks into the ground small areas of earth dry out and lift at the edges, becoming delineated by salt. In this striking design of black dotting on white paper Dorothy depicts the crustations of salt stretching infinitely onward, etched with the tracks of the women as their paths stretch on, crossing and merging; telling their stories.
This limited edition etching is from a collection of works that Dorothy Napangardi did through the gallery of her friend Roslyn Premont (Gallery Gondwana).
This AP edition was a special gift on my 60th birthday from Kaso and Roslyn Premont.
Date: 2004
Catalogue No: DN-9
Limited Edition: 40
Image Size: 70 cm x 49 cm
Paper size: 100 cm x 70 cm
Medium: Limited Edition Etching
Printer: Belinda Fox at Port Jackson Press, Melbourne, VIC
Publisher: Northern Editions, Darwin, NT in 2004
14. Malu Tjukurrpa by Walter Jugadai
This painting is titled Malu Tjukurrpa Dreaming by Walter Jugadai.
Wallaby Dreaming. You can see the wallaby foot prints on the side of this painting and the track that we follow.
Born in Alice Springs, he went to school in Warumpi (Papunya) and Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff). Walter Jugadai first started painting in 2004 at Ikuntji Artists, having watched the old men painting at Haasts Bluff, before there was even an art centre.
15. Healing by Trephina Sultan
This painting Healing depicts the landscape from which bush medicine is collected for healing people. The movement in the artwork represent the various stages of the plants growth, that can be significant when collecting for medicinal purposes.
16. Night Sky, 2010by Alison Napurrula Multa
This painting is titled “Night Sky” and describes the night sky over Haasts Bluff on a cold desert night. This work was purchased at the community art gallery in Haast Bluff.
17. Yalka Tjukurrpa by Evelyn Nungarrayi Jugadai
Bush Onion Dreaming. This is my Grandfathers story. This work was purchased at the community art gallery in Haast Bluff.
18. Putipulawa (Pretty Bush Flower), 2010 by Janet Tjitayi
In this beautiful work by Janet Tjitayi, she describes how she has used the wild flowers that grow in the Central Desert Country as an inspiration for this painting. This work was purchased at the community art gallery in Haast Bluff.
19. Water Dreaming, 2010 by Raymond Walters Japanangka
In this very special painting that I received for my birthday from my partner, the artist Raymond Walters had used metallic bronze coloured paint, in this ‘Water Dreaming’, which gave the work texture and an extra depth. Sometimes when the early morning sunlight hits the painting through the window, the painting glows. Just as special are the ‘7’ water symbols in the painting (my lucky number).
20. Seven Sisters, 2007 by Trephina Sultan
I wanted a special painting for my father and asked if Trephina would paint the story of the Seven Sisters. When she presented us with this lovely painting, I was over the moon (or should I say stars 🌠) and my father loved it.
21. Desert Hopping-Mouse (oil) by Gwen James
This small framed painting of the Desert Hopping-Mouse is by Gwen James. It is an oil on fibreboard artwork (acquired in Alice Springs, NT in 2009 and possibly older).
22. West MacDonnell Ranges and twin ghost gums by Fullwood
Landscape painting on fibreboard of the West MacDonnell Ranges and twin ghost gums by the artist Fullwood (acquired in Alice Springs NT).
23. Women Hunting, 2007 by Eric Braedon Mbitjana
We brought this painting many years ago direct from the artist Eric Braedon in Alice Springs. The painting embodied many of the subject matters that are an important part of Aboriginal life and culture, here in Central Australia.
24. Nellie Marks Nakamarra
Nellie Marks Nakamarra often paints ‘Women’s Travelling’ stories and ‘My Country’.
This artwork was a special painting of ‘Country‘ by Nellie Marks Nakamarra, painted for the Alice Queen of the Desert Festival launch, held at the Yubu Napa Art Gallery in September 2018. The lovely couple who owned and operated the gallery had it as prize gift draw on the night and won by Roslyn Premont, who gifted it to us.
25. Bush Seed Dreaming, 2008 by Keith Morgan Pitjara
This painting titled Bush Seed Dreaming by Keith Morgan Pitjara is about the bush seeds that are harvested in Central Australia for food.
26. Landscape (watercolour), 1904 by M. E. Chomley
This watercolour landscape painting signed M E Chomley in 1904 is thought to be by Mary Elizabeth Maud Chomley OBE (1872 – 1960).
Mary was a charity worker, arts patron, feminist and amateur artist and described as the ‘divine angel of mercy’ for Australian prisoners of war during the First World War.
27. Riding Together, 1980 by Maurice Fisher
This work I was given many years ago… likely in the 1980s. Titled Riding Together by photographer Maurice Fisher. This set of tiles measure 6 cm squared each, the entire image presenting as 48 cm squared. Researching, I saw a single image online with the following details: PC-100 Riding Together, Photography by Maurice Fisher 1980. Published and distributed by Harvey Hutter Co. Inc. N.Y. In cooperation with Salon des Artistes, Toronto, Canada. Printed in U.S.A.
28. Fire Rain Life (Triptych), by Trephina Sultan Thanguwa
A masterful sublimation of the circle of nature in this Fire Rain Life triptych. Painted by the artist using the same brush strokes with subtle differences, the paintings can be displayed in any sequence.
This blog is a work in progress… with more works to come…
