Cory/Molly/Stumpy (Part 2)

contemporary art world. Typically large meandering canvases tell of complex, yet fundamental, stories of ownership and land rights fused with whimsical stories of creation handed from generation to generation.R E D O T F I N E A R T G A L L E R Y in conjunction with Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency The Spinifex artists continue to paint traditional stories and document kinship responsibilities and these works have become widely knownpresents in the fine art world as some of the most important modern contemporary Indigenous art pieces being produced today. This growing reputation is also gaining international acclaim and the works are now housed within major art and museum collections both in Australia and overseas, with recent acquisitions by the British Museum making headlines and a major show in Germany in 2013.

This exhibition showcasing works by old master such as Fred Grant, Ned Grant, Roy Underwood, Estelle Hogan, Tjaruwa Woods and Lawrence Pennington, to mention but a few, opens on Wednesday, 14th May and runs till Saturday, 21st June 2014 and it is a must-see for Partof2modern contemporary Indigenous art, from anyone interested in following the development one of the Aboriginal art movements most remote, refreshing and innovative art centres.

Cory/Molly/Stumpy

Giorgio Pilla Director ReDot Fine Art Gallery

13 th August - 13 th September 2014

For a high resolution, downloadable, PDF version of the this catalogue, with pricing, please send us an email to info@redotgallery.com Thank you.

c o n t e m p o r a r y

f i n e

i n d i g e n o u s

a r t

Cory/Molly/Stumpy Following on from last year’s release of works from the estate of Paji Wajina Honeychild Yankarr, ReDot Fine Art Gallery is honoured and excited to be able to announce the estates and final works of three other senior women from the same community, the highly esteemed Wakartu Cory Surprise, Nyuju Stumpy Brown and Walka Molly Rogers.

Simply titled ‘Cory/Molly/Stumpy’, this exhibition will celebrate their amazing talents with works both on canvas and paper, dating back over 20 years, blatant records of desert country with the recurring theme being the Jila (waterhole) of various sites in the Great Sandy Desert which is one of the major ancestral areas for their people.

All three women were founding members of Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency in the early nineties and first exhibited work in the exhibition ‘Karrayili’ in Tandanya, Adelaide, 1991. They were also represented in Images of Power: Aboriginal Art of the Kimberley, National Gallery of Victoria, 1993. They instantly gained national recognition and became part of the core group of

(New) Mangkaja Art Centre Source: © Mangkaja Arts

artists at the art centre who continued to paint and exhibit consistently throughout the 1990s and 2000s with their domestic appeal soon moving internationally. Cory and Stumpy eventually became two of the best known Indigenous artists in Australia and Molly creating a solid fan base for her whimsical portraits of Kimberley waterholes.

They also jointly worked on the two eminent Ngurrara canvases in 1997, which were pivotal in proving the group’s connection to country and later led to their successful Ngurrara Native Title Claim.

Nyuju’s effervescent, intuitive and brightly hued paintings reflect a spritely and engaging character that belies the hardships and cultural dislocation that she experienced in her long life.

Wakartu on the other hand came to painting relatively late in life, at around the age of 50, after many years of rigorous station work. There’s nothing overly typical though about Wakartu’s paintings. In a community and art centre acclaimed for both its large-scale collaborations and major individual talents, Wakartu wielded a powerful blend of nononsense seniority and sheer, expressive originality. Walka blended effortlessly between the pair, contrasting, complimenting and threading together the complex stories these women had to tell.

Wakartu’s bold compositions, restricted palette and sheer expressive originality had her admirers proclaiming her among Australia’s foremost abstract painters, Nyuju and Walka sat very close by on this scale.

A never to be repeated show, there are over 50 works, from major canvases to exquisite small works on paper, capturing one of the most important bodies of Indigenous work to have left Australia in many years.

The exhibition opens on Wednesday, 13th August and runs till Saturday, 13th September 2014 and it is a must-see for anyone interested in following the development of modern contemporary Indigenous art, from one of the Aboriginal art movements most refreshing and innovative art centres.

Giorgio Pilla Director ReDot Fine Art Gallery

Walka Molly ROGERS

Birth Date Deceased Language Home

c. 1930 11/2006 Walmajarri Great Sandy Desert

Molly Rogers was born in 1930 in the bush at Japirnka, her country, south of Fitzroy Crossing in the Great Sandy Desert. Her Aboriginal name is Walka. She is the eldest of four children.

Her mother and father passed away in country called Timber Creek and she was brought up by her grandmother and her cousin, Peter Skipper’s grandmother. Some time later she met her promised husband who took her to Kumpujarti and then to a succession of different sites including Mangarla, Puluwala jila. Later she moved to Bayulu where she attended Karrayili Adult Education Centre and began to paint. Her work was first included in a Bayulu community exhibition at Indigenart, Subiaco in 1997.

“Longtime ago when I was living in the bush we use to go hunting for these animals, wirkla (sand goanna), lungkara (blue tongue lizard).When we light the fire the smoke brings the animals out its easy to catch it, like minyngajurru (golden bandicoot), minyjarti (great desert skink) also ngiyari (mountain devil) and raltariyi (kangaroo). I was born in my country called Japirnka (waterhole), it’s south from here to the Great Sandy Desert that’s where my mother had me.Then she passed away in this country called Jurnjawarla (waterhole). I am the oldest then Huey Bent, then Jimmy Wora, they my young sister Patsy Bangu only four of us.The other three weren’t born where I was, my mother had to travel a bit farther to a place called Jarlkurru (waterhole).That’s where they was born also they haven’t seen our mother and father since they was kids they both died when they was small I’m the only one who knew them. Our Grandmothers had to look after them until I grew up. Our Grandmother died not far from Lumpa Lumpa (waterhole).There’s a windmill not very far from there also this is where our mother and father died in this country called Timber Creek.”

Molly Rogers, 1996

Collections National Gallery of Victoria Karrayili Adult Education Centre Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT Source: © Mangkaja Arts

Walka Molly ROGERS

Birth Date Deceased Language Home

c. 1930 11/2006 Walmajarri Great Sandy Desert

Molly Rogers was born in 1930 in the bush at Japirnka, her country, south of Fitzroy Crossing in the Great Sandy Desert. Her Aboriginal name is Walka. She is the eldest of four children.

Her mother and father passed away in country called Timber Creek and she was brought up by her grandmother and her cousin, Peter Skipper’s grandmother. Some time later she met her promised husband who took her to Kumpujarti and then to a succession of different sites including Mangarla, Puluwala jila. Later she moved to Bayulu where she attended Karrayili Adult Education Centre and began to paint. Her work was first included in a Bayulu community exhibition at Indigenart, Subiaco in 1997.

“Longtime ago when I was living in the bush we use to go hunting for these animals, wirkla (sand goanna), lungkara (blue tongue lizard).When we light the fire the smoke brings the animals out its easy to catch it, like minyngajurru (golden bandicoot), minyjarti (great desert skink) also ngiyari (mountain devil) and raltariyi (kangaroo). I was born in my country called Japirnka (waterhole), it’s south from here to the Great Sandy Desert that’s where my mother had me.Then she passed away in this country called Jurnjawarla (waterhole). I am the oldest then Huey Bent, then Jimmy Wora, they my young sister Patsy Bangu only four of us.The other three weren’t born where I was, my mother had to travel a bit farther to a place called Jarlkurru (waterhole).That’s where they was born also they haven’t seen our mother and father since they was kids they both died when they was small I’m the only one who knew them. Our Grandmothers had to look after them until I grew up. Our Grandmother died not far from Lumpa Lumpa (waterhole).There’s a windmill not very far from there also this is where our mother and father died in this country called Timber Creek.”

Molly Rogers, 1996

Collections National Gallery of Victoria Karrayili Adult Education Centre Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 112 x 76cm wp083/2000

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp082/2000

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Kutarmiti Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 193/12

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp230/97

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp182/95

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 200/13

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 199/13

This is my country that way in the desert I was born here and grew up here. Me and my brother and sister lived together in one family, we played together and we used to fight.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Jila and Jumu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 204/13

This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place and move on to other place.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75cm 201/12

Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka.

There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There are high jilji, big ones all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

My Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75.5cm 205/13

This is my country, I was born near here, my daughter was born near here too, in the bush.

Japirnka jila (spring) is a long way from Fitzroy Crossing, there are high sandhills. It is a big place for ceremony. There is a snake living here at Japirnka.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm wp046/97

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Great Sandy Desert Acrylic Matt Paint, 300gsm S & W paper 76 x 56cm wp215/98

This is a jila (living water/spring) in my country, the Great Sandy Desert.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 53cm wp216/98

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

My Mum and My Father Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75.5 x 53cm 191/13

This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place at night and move on to other place.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 18/12

Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka.

There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There high jilji, big ones all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp172/01

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp044/97

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp043/97

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp155/97

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japirnka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 198/13

This is my country Japirnka. This country is a long way from Fitzroy Crossing. It is desert country. There is a jila (living water) there. There is a snake living here at Japirnka. It is a big place for ceremony. I grew up here at Japirnka jila.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp218/98

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Jilji and Claypan Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 192/13

This is sandhill (Jilji) and small waterholes the green represents water claypan country that way in my Japingka Jila.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp212/98

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 194/13

This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place and move on to other place.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 52.5cm wp214/98

This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left.

This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 52cm 29/12

Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka.

There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There high jilji, big ones all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 66 x 50cm 201/13

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 66 x 50cm 195/13

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Jilji Claypan Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 56 x 38cm 190/13

This is jilji country and claypan country near Japingka my country I used to play here when I was a little girl.

Walka Molly ROGERS

Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 53 x 38cm wp327/96

My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.

In conjunction with

REDOT FINE ART GALLERY ArtSpace@Helutrans, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, Gallery 9 Unit #01-05, Singapore 089065 +65 6222 1039 • info@redotgallery.com

SEA / DOCKS

39 PSA Gate 1

Tanjong Pagar Distripark (Entrance)

37

Block 39, Ground Floor #01-05

Opp Former Railway Station.

Cantonment

Malayan Railway Station

Link

CANTONMENT ROAD

KEPPEL ROAD

Spottiswoode Park Everton Park

Everton Road

Blair Road

NEIL ROAD

Tues - Sat 12pm - 7pm

|

All Other Times Open by Appointment

www.redotgallery.com

© ReDot Fine Art Gallery. All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retriever system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of ReDot Fine Art Gallery.

For a high resolution, downloadable, PDF version of the this catalogue, with pricing, please send us an email to info@redotgallery.com Thank you.