WienekeArchiveBook1

Abo Paintings Aie Tribute to Artists By JAMES W1ENEKE THE unusual collection of fewer colours to be shown ha the "Brisbane Telegratil" vestibule from Monday by 11 men from the Arunta tribe of Central Australia, and which the work of one of them, Albert Natnatjira, has made famous, is an exhibition of extraordinary interest PROBABLY the most in- teresting evidence of our aborigines' culture. comes from ' the Arunta grounds. Albert shows three works. one hided is his very first.. and his finished picture is a de- tailed study of an ancient gum. Three of his sons are paint- ing, Ewald. Enos and Oscar. Ewald and Enos are indivi- dualists. and Ewald is an amazing aborigine. There Ls Most of these artists centre great sensitiveness in "Fluke their interest in the actual Gorge." his treatment of "Mt. landscape and its pattern-not Ziel" is like the middle period too often painting clouds. They of English water colour, and revel in rich colour and sel- he brings a very modern touch dom resort to washing-out and to "rink,. Pivot Afte" Mond." repainting. In a number of quarters the artistic value of this painting has been questioned-largely on the grounds that it is not true aboriginal expression -and it Is suggested that the black man, being the perfect mimic he is, very easily acquired a form of expression woven around Bat- terbee's own work ithe artist who gave Albert his few les- kills Be this as it may, we also know that many masters of European painting were for years influenced by their own teachers-also around them was the work of many other men. As well as the eorliest known example of Albert's painting, along with a comparatively re- cent one, ore the works of three other men, re- vealing on entirely dif- ferent feeling and col- our from that of Albert. THE Aruntas had nothing be- yond the few rudiments- the number of original works they have seen is infinitestinal -neither have they been be- yond their tribal grounds; this country which impresses them so much with hills and ranges like colourful. medieval ram- parts standing isolated and patient and rising out of the plains and red sandhills. lieved by the clean and bead- Mut trunks of ghost gums. Therefore, I believe, Albert occupies an important niche, and he is, of course. a link to the other men, whose work also has the white man's technical nfluence, but is strong in native feeling and spirit. I would not be surprised if this collection is some day re- cognised as one of the most unique of Its kind in the world. For whether mimics or not in this matter. they have in a few years, after countless centuries of, stone age existence, pro- duced a quality of work which will make mail' men ponder and reflect. Enos shows a work of strange !fascination in "Midday Haze, .James Range"-its good. The whole thing pulsates with a wind, Undercurrent of mys- tery. No question of the abori- gine at work here, with its deep colours and rhythmic sweep of moving line. There is simple and delicious colour in Oscar's "Palm Pad- dock." but he appears to be influenced by :ils father's work to some 'extent. * THREE other brothers, the Pareroult,Ias, . also con- tribute. Otto shows the one still life. "Wildflowers." Edwin finds different colour in the blue greys, of the interior hill;. Ruben Pareroulthi is the only artist who attempts the painting of men and animals. ' These are very interesting and he draws his animals with small heads. The English, sporting print artists, did the same thing year- ago. A love of parallel lines: is evident in Richard Mocketa- rinpes painting, and deep wine reds, appear to fascinate him. His -Ghost. Gums, James Range." makes a bold piece of decoration. Walter Ebritarin.ja has only two works.- His pictures will appeal with their facility and choice of colour. Strong bold colour and good relationship of line, make Henoch Raberaba's "Gums at Ellery's Creek" one of the vig- orous watercolours. Gustav Malbanga is also a man with technical skill, but with a restrained colour sense, as seen in "Mt. Razor- back. Western MitODonnells."