Merryn Schriever
Managing Director, Australia
Lot 65
Michael Nelson Tjakamarra(circa 1948)(Possum Dreaming at Wallatjarri), 1987
6 June 2017, 18:30 AEST
Sydney, NCJWASold for AU$15,860 inc. premium
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Alex Clark
Head of Sale, Senior Specialist
Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (circa 1948)
(Possum Dreaming at Wallatjarri), 1987
inscribed verso with Papunya Tula Artists cat. MN8707103
synthetic polymer paint on linen
181.0 x 92.0cm (71 1/4 x 36 1/4in).
inscribed verso with Papunya Tula Artists cat. MN8707103
synthetic polymer paint on linen
181.0 x 92.0cm (71 1/4 x 36 1/4in).
Footnotes
PROVENANCE
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs
Private collection, Sydney
Joel Fine Art, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 3 June 2008, lot 103
Private collection, Melbourne
This painting is accompanied by Papunya Tula Artists documentation that reads: 'In this painting the artist has depicted the Possum Dreaming at the site of Wallatjari. In mythological times heavy rains fell in this area. The artist has shown this storm by the roundels with the sinuous lines emanating from them which are shown at each end of the work. The pink roundels and the central section depict a cave in which two Possum Ancestors were sitting to escape the storm. They had captured a small joey and were eating it.
The side sections represent the Possum Dreaming. The sinuous lines are the marks made in the sand by the dragging tail. Michael Nelson was awarded First Prize in the 1984 National Aboriginal Art Award. The design from one of Michael's works has been selected for us in the mosaic forecourt of the New Parliament House in Canberra'.
