Ochre Painters of the Kimberley

The great names of Kimberley ochre paintings include Jack Britten, Rover Thomas, Queenie McKenzie, Shirley Purdie, Henry Wambini and Hector Jandany. This exhibition focuses on smaller works by these great artists, showcasing the ochre style that so distinctly represents the art of Warmun community. Most of the paintings date from the period of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Jack Britten records his story about his Country- ‘Tickalara, it is deep in the country in the East Kimberley region. Tickalara, one of the places that Jack ‘footwalked everywhere’ as a boy, hunting with his father.’ Later in life when Jack worked as a stockman, he covered the area on Old Hann Springs cattle station. His pictures show the huge hills, known to him as the joalingi, the translation being ‘hills densely covered with large smooth boulders and spinifex.’ With the numerous rocks for cover, it was always a good place to hunt jiyirriny, the hill kangaroo, or rock wallaby.

The exhibition also includes some limited edition works on paper by the artists and ochre paintings from Kalumburu artist Lily Karadada. Ochre Painters of the Kimberley is on display at Japingka Gallery until 22 March 2023.