STANLEY DOUGLAS
Aboriginal & Pacific Art is delighted to present the first solo exhibition of
Stanley Douglas in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA
23 June - 10 July 2021
Cover page: Detail of Stanley Douglas, Seven Sisters, Acrylic on Linen, 122 x 122 cm Next page: Stanley Douglas. Image courtesy Tjala Arts. Photography Luke Byrne
Stanley Douglas is a highly respected senior man of Amata community. A dynamic man with a strong work ethic, Stanley has worn many hats, including many years as a cattle stockman across South Australia and Queensland before working for 15 years as one of the first Anangu policemen in Central Australia, and later a Community Pastor. Stanley is now dedicated to developing his painting practice at Tjala Arts. Stanley Douglas is painting the story of the Seven Sisters at Walinynga (Cave Hill), a significant Seven Sisters Tjukurpa (Dreaming) site of the Anangu, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, and for which he is a Traditional Owner.
Image: Stanley Douglas. Image courtesy Tjala Arts. Photography Luke Byrne
Seven Sisters Stanley has depicted the Seven Sisters Story. This is a Tjukurpa Story (Creation Story) about the constellations of Pleiades and Orion. The sisters are the constellaton of Pleiades and the other star Orion is said to be Nyiru or Nyirunya (described as a lusty or bad man). Nyiru is forever chasing the sisters known as the Kunkarunkara women as it is said he wants to marry the eldest sister. The seven sisters travel again and again from the sky to the earth to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions. They turn into their human form to escape from the persistent Nyiru, but he always finds them and they flee back to the sky. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarpra (bush tomatoes) for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful Ili (fig) tree for them to camp under. However, the sisters are too clever for Nyiru and outwit him as they are knowledgeable about his magic. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Every now and again one of the women fall victim to his ways. It is said that he eventually captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually the sisters fly back into the sky to escape Nyiru, reforming the constellation. (In some cases the artist will secretly depict sexual elements as Nyiru is really only after one thing -sex).
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 122 x 122 cm 38-21 SOLD
Seven Acrylic on linen 758 SO
Sisters n, 198 x 122 cm 8-20 OLD
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 122 cm 193-21 SOLD
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 101.5 cm 251-21 SOLD
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 101.5 cm 429-20 SOLD
In this painting Stanley has depicted his country. The different colours and designs represent variations in the landscape.
Ngayuku ngura - My Country Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 101.5 cm 459-20 SOLD
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 122 cm 733-20 SOLD
Seven Sisters Acrylic on linen, 152.5 x 122 cm 46-21 SOLD
STANLEY DOUGLAS Biography Birth Date Language Community
c1940 Pitjantjatjara Amata : SA
Stanley Douglas is a highly respected senior man of Amata community. A dynamic man with a strong work ethic, Stanley has worn many hats, including many years as a cattle stockman across South Australia and Queensland before working for 15 years as one of the first Anangu policemen in Central Australia, and later a Community Pastor. Stanley is now dedicated to developing his painting practice at Tjala Arts. Stanley Douglas is painting the story of the Seven Sisters at Walinynga (Cave Hill), a significant Seven Sisters Tjukurpa (Dreaming) site of the Anangu, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, and for which he is a Traditional Owner. Group Exhibitions 2020 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France - Kulata Tjuta 2020 Araluen Cultural Precinct - Desert Mob 2020 2020 Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney - Tjala Arts | Tjukurpa nganampa kunpu kanyintjaku: Stories that keep culture strong 2020 Outstation Gallery - Tjala Arts 2020 2020 Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne - Tjilpis 2019 Sydney Contemporary - APY Gallery 2019 Aboriginal and Pacific Art - Nganampa Waltja Tjurkpa – Our Family Tjukurpa 2019 APY Gallery - ANNIVERSARY PUKULPA - KATU PARPAKANI (Happy anniversary - Flying high) 2019 Outstation Gallery, Darwin - Rising Stars 2019 2017 National Museum Australia - Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters Collections ART BANK COLLECTION PRIVATE COLLECTION Awards 2021 NATSIAA Finalist
STANLEY DOUGLAS 23 June - 10 July 2021
Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney in association with Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA
All images and text copyright the Artist and Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA Courtesy of the artist and Tjala Arts, Amata, APY Lands, SA
Aboriginal & Pacific Art, 1/24 Wellington Street, Waterloo, NSW, 2017 Australia Ph: +61 2 9699 2211 E: info@aboriginalpacificart.com.au W: www.aboriginalpacificart.com.au