Aboriginal and Oceanic Art

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Lot 43
  • 43

ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA)

Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 AUD
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Description

  • Rover Thomas (Joolama)
  • LURINTJIPUNGU (CLARA SPRING)
  • Bears artist's name and title, a one dollar postage stamp featuring a Rover Thomas painting and an article from the West Australian newspaper on the reverse
  • Natural earth pigments on composition board (masonite)
  • 46.5 by 61 cm

Provenance

This painting was one of a set that was made for a Gurirr Gurirr performance at the 1983 Celebration of Aboriginal Arts at the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University). The artist presented the painting to the principal festival organiser, and is sold by his family

Condition

The painting is executed on an irregular masonite board that has been used in performance of the artist's Gurirr Gurirr ceremony. The yellow and brown pigments appear stable though have suffered much smudging scuffing and scratching. The white dots appear to have been applied with little or no fixative and the majority have either been depleted partially or entirely and remaining pigment remains unstable.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Cf. For two related paintings in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia see Kalumpiwarra/Ngulalinji (No.3 Bore) and Lurinjipungu (Clara Springs), both executed in 1984, in Thomas, R. with K. Akerman, M. Macha, W. Christensen and W. Caruana, Roads Cross: The paintings of Rover Thomas, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1994, pp. 36 and 37 respectively, illus.

Number 20 in the Gurirr Gurirr song cycle as recorded by the artist in Thomas et al, 1994, Lurintjipungu is a site visited by the spirit of the artist's aunt accompanied by the guiding spirit Jimpi on their journey across the Kimberley towards Turkey Creek. Jimpi refuses to sing the corroboree for this country and the two argue. Eventually Jimpi relents. This painting is one of the earliest recorded paintings by the artist