Wattie Karruwara circa 1910-1983

Painted by Wattie Karruwara at Mowanjum, Kimberley, Western Australia in April 1975
Kim Akerman Collection
Mary Macha, Perth, Western Australia
The Thomas Vroom Collection, The Netherlands

Painted on a slab of sandstone, the work is in excellent and stable condition overall with no repairs or restoration. Minor pigment loss on the central area of the left facing arm.
"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."

Cf. Judith Ryan with Kim Akerman, Images Of Power : Aboriginal Art Of The Kimberley, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 2003, p.15, for a photograph of Wattie Karruwara painting another from this series on stone for Kim Akerman at Mowanjum in 1975.

There is a painting of Mandangari in a cave near Wanalirri in the central Kimberley. He is shown as a young married man, ‘ombut’, after the initiation stage when a young crocodile is placed on his back. Mandangari’s son is the long-necked tortoise, Wulumarin. The tortoise was in a pool drying up in the heat of summer. He called to his father to give rain. Mandangari heard him and sent a small cloud, which grew larger and larger and then let the rain fall to relieve the stricken tortoise.

Wattie Karruwara (also known as Wattie Kaduwara; Karuwarra; Karawara and ‘Long Wattie’) was born in the Hunter River (Mariawala) basin, an area known as Elalemerri to the Woonambal (Wunambal) in about 1910. The Hunter River, rising in the rugged majesty of Mitchell Plateau flows into the turbulent waters of Prince Frederick Harbour.

His clan is known as Landar after the small yellow-flowered, holly-leaved, pea-flower, Bossiaea bossiaeoides, locally called Emu-flower; the flowers and seedpods are a favourite food of emus. Wattie had, as did all members of his estate, the Brolga (karangkuli) as his primary patrilineal moiety totem.

KA