Lot 96: KAAPA MBITJANA TJAMPITJINPA , CIRCA 1926-1989 CHILDREN'S WATER DREAMING Synthetic polymer paint/powder paint on composition board

Synthetic polymer paint/powder paint on composition board

46 by 30 cm

Bardon, G. and Bardon J., Papunya, A Place made after the Story; The Beginnings of the Western Desert Paintings Movement, The Miegunyah Press, Melbourne University Publishing, 2004, p.47 Ptg.454 illus.

Painted at Papunya in April / May 1972
Papunya Tula Artists until 1974
Private collection, UK
Sotheby's, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 30 June 1997, lot 184
Private collection

In Bardon and Bardon the subject matter is described as: "A ritual man, indicated by the large 'U', sits at a sand mosaic in the centre of the painting. Running water is indicated by the undulating line travelling to waterholes, which are shown by the oval shapes. Modified ceremonial hats for viewing by children are depicted by diamond shapes and the linear grid represents body paint. The human figure shown is of the ritual man duplicated by the traditional 'U'.

'Kaapa used realistic representations quite often and, significantly for me, had tried to do so with the school murals. He was influenced by the magazines and comics which he read avidly, and he should be compared in this matter of influences with Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. Tracks of the dancers are indicated, but the full story is unknown since Kaapa was often unforthcoming as to a painting's meaning and tended to lapse into a measured solipsism.' (ibid p.477)

This painting is sold with a copy of the original field notes as prepared by Geoffrey Bardon