Ochre Painters of the Kimberley

Gallery 1 Exhibition

19 February – 30 March, 2016

 

Yol Yol Country – Bow River by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Yol Yol Country – Bow River

Jap 012443  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Winnaba Springs by Queenie McKenzie

Queenie McKenzie  |  Winnaba Springs

Jap 010410  |  ochre on canvas  |  121 x 91 cm

Sold

Jidawuny – Bungle Bungles by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Jidawuny – Bungle Bungles

Jap 012541  |  ochre on linen  |  150 x 90 cm

Sold

Map of Country by Jack Dale Mengenen

Jack Dale Mengenen  |  Map of Country

Jap 006403  |  ochre on linen  |  90 x 76 cm

Sold

Jimirowen – Kimberley Star, Gold Country by Shirley Bray

Shirley Bray  |  Jimirowen – Kimberley Star, Gold Country

Jap 000940  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

Sold

Jack Baddens Creek – Bow River by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Jack Baddens Creek – Bow River

Jap 006577  |  ochre on canvas  |  180 x 120 cm

Sold

Jabajari by Rover Thomas

Rover Thomas  |  Jabajari

Jap 012212  |  ochre on canvas  |  160 x 90 cm

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Blacksoil Plains, Warmun Country by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Blacksoil Plains, Warmun Country

Jap 011934  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

Sold

Gulun Duen Springs by Jack Dale Mengenen

Jack Dale Mengenen  |  Gulun Duen Springs

Jap 010719  |  ochre on canvas  |  180 x 120 cm

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Texas Rockhole by Charlene Carrington

Charlene Carrington  |  Texas Rockhole

Jap 011929  |  ochre on linen  |  160 x 70 cm

Bedford Station by Rover Thomas

Rover Thomas  |  Bedford Station

Jap 006654  |  ochre on board  |  183 x 91.5 cm

Sold

Nyirla Country by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Country

Jap 005599  |  ochre on canvas  |  145 x 127 cm

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Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 006306  |  acrylic on canvas  |  117 x 96 cm

Jungerrnun Country by Mona Ramsay

Mona Ramsay  |  Jungerrnun Country

Jap 000792  |  ochre on canvas  |  120 x 90 cm

Sold

Untitled by Jack Dale Mengenen

Jack Dale Mengenen  |  Untitled

Jap 012445  |  ochre on canvas  |  200 x 62 cm

Sold

My Country – Texas Downs by June Peters

June Peters  |  My Country – Texas Downs

Jap 011305  |  ochre on canvas  |  76 x 50 cm

Sold

Boolanji – Fish Hole by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Boolanji – Fish Hole

Jap 006148  |  ochre on Arches paper  |  105 x 65 cm

Gilbine – Mabel Downs by Shirley Purdie

Shirley Purdie  |  Gilbine – Mabel Downs

Jap 012535  |  ochre on linen  |  150 x 90 cm

Sold

Luurn Creation Site at Nyirla by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Luurn Creation Site at Nyirla

Jap 004941  |  ochre on canvas  |  144 x 126 cm

Sold

North of Speewah by Tommy Carroll

Tommy Carroll  |  North of Speewah

Jap 000980  |  ochre on canvas  |  125 x 90 cm

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Spearhead Dreaming – Jimbirla by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Spearhead Dreaming – Jimbirla

Jap 011299  |  ochre on canvas  |  61 x 46 cm

Sold

Elbow Hole – Spring Creek by Freddie Timms

Freddie Timms  |  Elbow Hole – Spring Creek

Jap 012538  |  ochre on linen  |  140 x 90 cm

Sold

Maran Maranji Rockhole by Hector Jandanay

Hector Jandanay  |  Maran Maranji Rockhole

Jap 012536  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Carola Valley by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Carola Valley

Jap 011317  |  ochre on canvas  |  76 x 50 cm

Sold

Untitled by Hector Jandanay

Hector Jandanay  |  Untitled

Jap 010496  |  ochre on linen  |  135 x 122 cm

Narranguny Hills by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Narranguny Hills

Jap 012540  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Big Travelling Story at Nyirla by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Big Travelling Story at Nyirla

Jap 005752  |  ochre on canvas  |  145 x 125 cm

Sold

Purnululu – Top Way by Nora Nagarra

Nora Nagarra  |  Purnululu – Top Way

Jap 003955  |  ochre an canvas  |  100 x 100 cm

Sold

Nyirla Country by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Country

Jap 004218  |  ochre on canvas  |  144 x 125 cm

Sold

Daam Naginba – My Country by Hector Jandanay

Hector Jandanay  |  Daam Naginba – My Country

Jap 012537  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Goondaring- Fish Rain by Goody Barrett

Goody Barrett  |  Goondaring- Fish Rain

Jap 006135  |  ochre on linen  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Wardang Hill by Mabel Juli

Mabel Juli  |  Wardang Hill

Jap 011930  |  ochre on canvas  |  100 x 100 cm

Sold

Echidna Chasm – Purnululu by June Peters

June Peters  |  Echidna Chasm – Purnululu

Jap 011249  |  ochre on canvas  |  46 x 35 cm

Sold

Doweloo – Dalarji Junction by Henry Wambini

Henry Wambini  |  Doweloo – Dalarji Junction

Jap 010495  |  ochre on linen  |  160 x 140 cm

Sold

Garang – Turner, Ord & Fox Rivers by Chris Churchill

Chris Churchill  |  Garang – Turner, Ord & Fox Rivers

Jap 011932  |  ochre on linen  |  100 x 100 cm

Sold

Untitled by Billy Thomas

Billy Thomas  |  Untitled

Jap 010503  |  ochre on canvas  |  70 x 50 cm

Dog Boss Rock by Goody Barrett

Goody Barrett  |  Dog Boss Rock

Jap 012539  |  ochre on canvas  |  90 x 60 cm

Sold

Watarguttarbe by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Watarguttarbe

Jap 011297  |  ochre on canvas  |  61 x 46 cm

Sold

Picanninny Creek by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Picanninny Creek

Jap 011257  |  ochre on canvas  |  76 x 50 cm

Sold

Untitled by Billy Thomas

Billy Thomas  |  Untitled

Jap 009465  |  ochre on canvas  |  60.5 x 45.5 cm

Sold

Fish Egg Dreaming by Marcia Purdie

Marcia Purdie  |  Fish Egg Dreaming

Jap 011298  |  ochre on canvas  |  76 x 50 cm

Sold

Tickelara Country by Jack Britten

Jack Britten  |  Tickelara Country

Jap 011071  |  ochre pigments on canvas  |  90 x 177 cm

Sold

Dance Time by Peggy Griffiths

Peggy Griffiths  |  Dance Time

Jap 010408  |  ochre on canvas  |  75 x 45 cm

Cangin and Wartal – Moon and Stars by Nancy Nodea

Nancy Nodea  |  Cangin and Wartal – Moon and Stars

Jap 006133  |  ochre on linen  |  100 x 61 cm

Sold

Artists like Rover Thomas, Freddie Timms and Jack Britten typify the style of ochre painting that is closely identified with the Kimberley region. Based on a close knowledge of the country and the stories that have taken place on that country, the paintings become inclusive of the whole experience of Aboriginal life in this part of Australia. Aboriginal culture includes oral traditions of knowledge and storytelling, which the ochre artists have embedded in their images of country that wrap up the whole identity of the local people.

The ready availability of natural ochres in the environment link the modern paintings created on canvas to the ancient traditions of body painting for ceremonies and rock painting for sacred sites. The Kimberley has some of the great prehistoric art sites of the world, located on rock chambers along the western and northern regions of the Kimberley. The combination of art and ceremony is carried on with the dance boards, painted in ochre and used by performers in ritual re-enactments of the creation stories and legends.

Younger artists have taken on the task of re-telling the stories in paintings created with natural ochre pigments, and artists like Charlene Carrington, Marcia Purdie and June Peters present many small and compelling paintings in this tradition. Senior women artists from the group include Mabel Juli, Shirley Purdie, Nancy Nodea, Phyllis Thomas and Nora Nagarra.

The exhibition ‘Ochre Painters of the Kimberley’ will present over 45 paintings and will be on display at Japingka Gallery during February and March 2016.