Western Arrarnta artist Albert Namatjira translated the ancient beauty of the Central desert landscape through his watercolours of ghostly gums, red gorges and purple mountain peaks, ancient paths and waterways; with some scenes inhabited by people and animals. Namatjira’s paintings instill an Indigenous narrative that subverts the possessive function of the Western landscape genre in Australian art through a visual display of reclamation of land and culture.
‘Painting Country’ is a comprehensive survey of Namatjira’s works, some never before seen.
Albert Namatjira, Standley Chasm, c1945, painting in watercolour over faint underdrawing in black pencil, 39.6 x 25.8cm. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of Marilyn Darling AC in memory of Gordon Darling AC CMG 2016. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. Courtesy National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Albert Namatjira, Hermannsburg, 1952. State Library of South Australia (B36726)
National Gallery of Australia
Until 2 April, 2018
Australian Capital Territory
