Two extraordinary works of art will be on display in Robinvale for NAIDOC week this year.
Two Brothers,Two Brothers, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri 1999, have only been shown publicly once before and this year, they will be on display at the Robinvale Community Centre from 5th July – 16th July, and local artists are invited to submit works to be displayed alongside to create a feature NAIDOC art show.
Custodian of the works David Lovell says "I'm really excited to show these pieces, they're really special and significant, they deserve a more fitting keeping place."
"These pieces have been in my family for years but they should be honoured with their own exhibition, and if we could also feature some of our local Aboriginal artists, what a terrific way to commemorate NAIDOC week."
David and local artist Luke Morgan will be currating the exhibition working with members of the Marawarpina Local Aboriginal Network and invite Aboriginal artists from around the region to submit works to be displayed alongside one of Australia's most significant Indigenous artists.
As well as being displayed alongside two Clifford's, the Marawarpina Local Aboriginal Network are offering cash prizes to be awarded to local Aboriginal artists in this year's NAIDOC art show.
1st prize = $500
2nd prize = $300
3rd prize = $200
Works must be submitted before 5pm Friday 2nd July.
The pop up gallery will be located in the foyer of the Robinvale Community Centre on McLennan Drive from 5th July until Friday 16th July.
David can be contacted by phone on 0448900321 for art show submissions or for questions and comment.
Biography
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
DOB: c. 1932 - 21 June 2002
Born: Napperby Station, NT
Language Group: Anmatyerre
Community: Alice Springs, NT
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri AO (1932 - 21 June 2002) was an Australian painter, considered to be one of the most collected and renowned Australian Aboriginal artists. His paintings are held in galleries and collections in Australia and elsewhere, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Australia, the Kelton Foundation and the Royal Collection.
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri led a ground-breaking career and was amongst the vanguard of Indigenous Australian artists to be recognised by the international art world. Clifford Possum blazed a trail for future generations of Indigenous artists, bridging the gap between Aboriginal art and contemporary Australian art.
In 2002, Clifford Possum was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia '…for service as a contributor to and pioneer of the development of the Western Desert art movement, and to the Indigenous community through interpretation of ancient traditions and cultural values.' He is and has always been regarded as the leading figure in Australian Aboriginal art.
Two Brothers, 1999
The skeleton figures represent the two Tjangala brothers who perished in a magical bushfire at Wariakalangu. It is the conclusion of an epic journey the boys make to escape the flames but eventually they are roasted in the sand when they return home believing that all is forgiven. It is a cautionary tale with a clear moral that is known to all the inhabitants of the Western Desert. The boys' father is the 'Blue Tongue Lizard' man, the old Lungkata.
He asks his two sons to go out hunting and instead of travelling out into the desert to look for game, they kill and roast the old man's sacred kangaroo. When he returns from ceremony to find his sons cooking his pet he becomes enraged and uses his blue tongue to light a magical fire. The boys flee with their two spears, woomeras, stone knives and headbands, which are all illustrated, and travel as far as South Australia until they notice the flames dying out. They cautiously return home over the black and charred landscape until they reach Warlukurlangu and it is here that they meet their end and die under the sand as the inferno passes overhead.
