FireWorks Gallery presents Michael Nelson Jagamara: Possum Stories, an exhibition exploring one of the Warlpiri artist’s foundational narratives, the Possum Dreaming.
The Possum Dreaming is an epic story grounded in complex kinship structures, taboos and tribal lore. The story of two young Possum lovers and their punishment has been central to Jagamara’s artistic practice.
The exhibition brings together key works painted between 2000 and 2019, including Possum Classic (2013), which returns to the vibrant ‘gelati’ colours of Jagamara’s earlier Sydney Opera House work, and Possum People (2019–21), one of his final paintings, completed with the assistance of family.
The exhibition also highlights Jagamara’s significant collaborations with Australian artist Imants Tillers. Five joint works created between Brisbane, Papunya and Cooma feature Jagamara’s Possum imagery. Know Yourself (2021), completed posthumously by Tillers, brings together Jagamara’s central Possum motif with Tillers’ layered imagery and texts. Works from the collaboration are held in collections including QAGOMA, Parliament House, Canberra and Tate Modern, London.
Floor Talk: Saturday 17 October, 2:30pm with Michael Eather
Opening: Saturday 17 October, 3–5pm, opened by Simon Wright, Assistant Director, Learning and Public Engagement, Queensland Art Gallery
Image: Michael Nelson Jagamara & Imants Tillers Know Yourself 2021 synthetic polymer paint & gouache on 22 canvas boards
