Story Lines illustrates the diversity of Aboriginal art practice from the desert to the sea. Featuring artists from the Northern Territory and Queensland, this exhibition showcases both traditional “dot painting”, contrasted with contemporary artistic expressions. Though stylistically the works differ dramatically, each artist uses their practice as a way of connecting to (and sharing) their ancestorial stories, traditional country and lore.
From desert communities in the Northern Territory, this exhibition presents works by Michael Nelson Jagamara (Papunya), Ester Bruno Nangala (Kintore) and emerging artists from Warlukurlangu Artist Corporation (Yuendumu).
Jagamara, one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal artists had developed a signature style where he deconstructs his traditional dot paintings down to their bare bones to expose the graphic, almost logo like core components. Whilst his use of colour and material (including the creation of sculptures) has continuous evolved, he makes the poignant comment that the stories the works represent have never changed. This exhibition includes his Yam (Yala), Kangaroo and Lightning storm dreamings.
Works from Warlukurlangu artists also tell their dreamings (or Jukurrpa in the local Warlpiri language). These are often stories about scared sites or animals from the region.
Moving intro Queensland is Joanne Currie Nalingu from Mitchell. Joanne grew up on the banks of the Maranoa river and her distinctive linear patterning recounts these memories. Her paintings are calming and meditative. More recently she has incorporated snippets of her Gunggari language and shield designs printed behind her hand painted swirls.
Weather it be freshwater or saltwater, a connection to country is a dominant theme. Rising to prominence in the mid-90s as part of the renowned Lockhart River Art Gang Rosella Namok, Fiona Omeenyo and Samantha Hobson were raised experiencing traditional life, hearing the old people yarn, fishing, and gathering food on the beaches in Far North Queensland. This experience is heavily represented in each of their paintings; from Rosella Namok’s finger marks (a technique derived from watching her grandmother draw in the sand), to Samantha Hobson’s aerial views of the coastline to Fiona’s ancestorial figures.
The works selected in Story Lines reveal a tiny fragment of the stock carried by FireWorks Gallery however we have endeavored to show a representative cross section of the galleries focus and commitment to contemporary Aboriginal art from Queensland and the Northern Territory alongside non-aboriginal artists.
