I am delighted to welcome you to the second of two Aboriginal Fine art sales for 2007. This catalogue contains the largest and most valuable collection of art and artefacts that Lawson~Menzies has offered to date totaling $5.6M.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ONLINE CATALOGUE

Included in our November auction are exceptional paintings by Rover Thomas, Emily Ngwarray, Paddy Bedford, Clifford Possum, Queenie McKenzie, Lin Onus, Tommy Watson, Minnie Pwerl (formerly Pwerle) and Paddy Fordham amongst a large collection of fine works by other important artists.

Most noteworthy are Bungullgi, 1989 (Lot 59) by Rover Thomas, which was painted immediately prior to his inclusion in the Venice Biennale with materials provided by Mary Macha, and exhibited in the Centre Cultural Caixa de Girona in Spain in 2004; and Power Places –Texas Downs Country (Lot 49) depicting a number of important Kimberley sites and painted by Rover’s close friend and workmate, Queenie McKenzie, for Waringarri Arts in 1996. Other major works by Rover include a dramatic image of Cyclone Tracy (Lot 50), and Rainbow Jowie – Lake Billiluna (Lot 63) both of which were painted in Melbourne in 1995.

Following the sale of Earth’s Creation in our May sale, that set a record of $1.058 million and placed Emily Ngwarray as the most successful female artist in Australia, we are fortunate to be able to include another major multi-panelled work by Emily produced during the same workshop in 1995. In Earth’s Creation II (Lot 60), white dots flow across a canvas predominantly rendered in blue, burgundy and magenta in keeping with its name, creating a mystical, ethereal and explosive universe.  Lot 20 Alhalkere, Yam and Water Dreaming, also by Emily is a fine example of her earlier work where a fine layer of dots veil the symbols and tracks painted below. An artist of particular interest to me personally was the famed Rembarrnga storyteller, dancer, didgeridoo player and artist, Paddy Fordham Wainburranga for whom I organised a number of solo exhibitions during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Lot 65 comprises a set of six magnificent barks illustrating how the social structure, kinship system and law dictate morality and behaviour amongst the Yolngu of Arnhem Land.

Other lots worthy of special mention include Tommy Watson’s Iyarka, 2005 (Lot 48) that conveys immense visual power through its richly coloured yet minimally dotted surface and is expected to further enhance the interest in this great artist’s work, Minnie Pwerl’s strikingly gestural painting Awelye Atnwengerrp (Lot 51) and an outstanding example of Paddy Bedford’s luminous textured surfaces in Joogoomoondiny – Grawler Gully (Lot 19).  Following Lin Onus’ success in our May sale, 24 Hours by the Billabong –Late Afternoon (Lot 22) imparts on us a visual understanding of the Dreaming in this contemporary work.

I do hope that you enjoy our catalogue and are able to come to our viewings either in Melbourne, where a selection of works will be shown at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra from November 1st – 4th or at our historic headquarters in Sydney, 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington, from November 8th -13^th where the entire collection of works can be viewed.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during these events.