Important Australian Art

Northern South Australia

Tiwi Islands

While the art of the Tiwi Islands bears some similarity to that at Arnhem Land there are some distinct differences, most notably that of carving large burial poles which are painted and set up around a burial site. These are found no where else in Australia.

The bark paintings also exhibit a very distinct flavour, immediately in contrast to that of Arnhem Land.

Noted artist from this group, representing Melville and Islands are Bede Tungatulum.

The Kimberleys

Our Director, Neriba, has for many years, worked with the people of the Kimberley of North West Australia, accessing paintings through the art centres of Warmun, Balgo, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Waringari and Jirawun, and from various private contacts in the area. A number of major works are available for purchase, by the collector or institutions. Artists currently held include:

Mick Jawalji

Queenie McKenzie

Lloyd Kwilla

Jock Mosquito

Lily Karadada

Billy Duncan

David Mowaljarli

Walka Molly Rogers

Nym Bunduk

Kevin Waina

Milliga Napaltjari

Remmey Rammsey

Billy Thomas

Lena Nyadbi

Paddy Carlton

Madigan Thomas

Hector Jandanay

Louis Karadada

Rover Thomas 

 Roslyn Karadada

Jack Dale

Regina Karadada

Arnhem Land

The Indigenous art of Arnhem Land is quite distinct from the art styles of all other areas. Instead of iconography, the art gives a visual depiction of an object, person or mythological being. Quite often this is filled in with really painted lines, referred to as ‘raark’ or ‘cross-hatching’, and this in itself, by its, tells to which moiety or clan the artist belongs.

While there are similarities across Arnhem Land, stylistically the area can be divided into Eastern Arnhem Land, Central Arnhem, and Western Arnhem Land.

In past years much of the artwork was presented on slabs of eucalypt bark, suitably prepared by cleaning and flattening. In recent years some artists at same communities have also used sheets of ‘artists paper’ for the paint stratum, thus making the art work more marketable, to a larger audience.

While some of the art depicts stories from the local mythology, others talk about every day activities, eg: hunting, food gathering.

In addition to the paintings, a wide range of carved wooden and feathered items are produced for ceremonial use and are now marketed.

Central Desert

Over many years, and through personal contact with artists, art dealers and art communities, a very broad selection of paintings has been assembled, of interest for the collector or decorator.

PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED:

• Utopia
• Lajamanu
• Papunya
• Mount Allan
• Mount Liebig

• Hermansberg
• Ernabella
• Amata
• Blackstone

Several hundred artists from those various communities are represented in stock – far to many to individually list.

We also hold, for sale on a consignment basis single paintings and whole collections representing some of the best artists from those communities.

Watercolours

Watercolour Art [Often referred to as the Hermansberg School]

This art movement commenced when Albert Namatjira requested of Rex Batterbee that he be taught the skills of painting with watercolours. Albert became very proficient in this medium, and soon his sons and other relations and acquaintances at Hermansberg also tried their hand. A ready market developed for those art works on paper, which were usually relatively small in size. The art caught the imagination of many Australians and during the 1950’s and 1960’s was very popular. Although in recent years this medium has been over shadowed by the prolific production, by many artists, of ‘traditional’ style paintings in acrylic on canvas, there is still a core of watercolour artists operating in several Central Australian communities.

Tineriba has always maintained an inventory of Central Australian watercolour art, by many of the notable artist:

Including

Oscar Namatjira, Ewald Namatjira, Herbert Namatjira

Urban Aboriginal

We have a wide selection of artworks by Jacob Stengle and Bluey Roberts, collected over many years. Bluey is noted not only for his paintings on canvas, his designs and artworks on boomerangs, but also for his exquisitively carved emu eggs.

Jonathon Brown Kuminjara is noted for his artworks, often including the desert sands, telling of the destruction caused by the Maralinga ‘tests’ . In contrast, Jacob draws on the stories of his Ngarrindjeri ancestry to bring life to his artwork. Ian Abdullah revisits memories of his children.

Contempory Australian

Over the past 30 years Tineriba and Kintolai Galleries, and their Directors, have promoted many young, emerging Australian artists. A number have gone on to achieve success in their chosen field of art. The Gallery retains many artworks by those artists, including works by:-

While we believe it to be important to promote the new generation of artists we have continued to build up our stock of known contemporary artists like Tony Tuckson.