006
Anatjari
Tjakamarra No.III
Pintupi (c.1938-1992)
Men’s Corroboree Dreaming in a Cave, 1974
poster paint with PVA Bondcrete glue on hardboard
52 x 46cm
PROVENANCE
Painted in Papunya Tula, NT, 1974; commissioned by Geoffrey Bardon
Utopia Art Sydney; accompanied by documentation from Geoffrey Bardon
Private Collection, Sydney
Documentation by Geoffrey Bardon reads
This painting was painted at Yei Yei Bore, 20 kilometres west of Papunya
after I had requested Anatjari No.III to do a picture for Mr Reg Brabham.
Anatjari tells the story of how men, represented by the concentric circles,
sit in a cave, indicated by the central squared pattern where they are
linked together by string shown by the straight lines connecting the concentric
circles. The white dotting represents the prepared earth in the corroboree
area, and the work is a good example of Pintupi dreamings. Tjurunga or
sacred sticks are shown (signed and dated “Geoffrey Bardon/ 1st November,
1995”; and also features a reproduction of an explanatory drawing
commissioned by Bardon from Frank Slip).
For examples of the artists cave corroboree stories from 1972, see “Geoffrey
and James Bardon, ‘Papunya, A Place Made After the Story, The Beginnings
of the Western Desert Painting Movement’, The Miegunyah Press, p450
(paintings 421 and 422). The entries note that the celestial concentric
circles are probably ceremonial men singing and dancing.
Note: this work has been denied an export licence due to “…the
deep cultural significance of the subject matter relating to corroboree
as identified by the Pintupi law men which is secret/scared in nature
and is unsuitable for public display; the importance of Anatjari II Tjakamarra
as a key figure in Papunya Tula art; and examples of this type of work
is not adequately represented in public collection.”