Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri b.1932 d.2002
(c1932-2002)
Anmatyerre/Arrernte language group
Fish and Honey Dreaming 1999
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
204.0 x 232.0 cm
signed, dated and inscribed verso: Clifford Possum/ fish + Honey Dreaming/ 1999. Included are Photos of Clifford signing and painting canvas.
$90,000
Provenance:
Royal Mint collection 1998 - 2005
Mia Mia Gallery, Victoria
Private collection, Melbourne
Clifford is one of the most renown Aboriginal Artist of his time. He was the chairman of the Papunya Tula Artists from the 1970’s to the 1980’s. His work is featured in many of the main galleries and collections around Australia and Internationaly,Collections include the National Gallery in Canberra and the New South Wales Art Gallery. His work has travelled extensively around the world, including, ’Dreamings’ The Art of Aboriginal Australia in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and St Louis. He has had a book published dedicated to him and his paintings, ’The Art of Clifford Possum Japaltjarri’, by Vivien Johnson. He is and has always been regarded as the leading figure in Australian Aboriginal Art.
Clifford Possum was born in 1932 on Napperby Station. He worked extensively as a stockman on the cattle stations in and around his traditional country. During this time he developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Dreaming Trails that criss-cross the area to the north of the western McDonnell Ranges, which he depicts in painting his Dreamings.
His career as an artist began in the 50’s when he carved snakes and goannas. By the 70’s he was one of the most accomplished carvers in Central Australia. His first opportunity to paint came when one of Albert Namatjira’s sons gave him acrylic paints and the master began his work. Clifford, living at the Papunya Community was one of the first artists to be involved with the Aboriginal Art Movement.
The art of Clifford Possum is notable for its brilliant manipulation of three-dimensional space. Many of his canvasses have strong figurative elements which stand out from the highly descriptive background dotting.
In some of his stories Clifford attempts to give a visual impression of sunlight, cloud, shadow and earth to denote specific times of the day. His paintings show superlative skill, incredible inventiveness of form and are visually spectacular.
Clifford’s work is contemporary but essentially Aboriginal in inspiration. To appreciate its full richness it is imperative that it is seen not only by its colour, composition and balance but by its mythological detail. One of the extraordinary qualities of Clifford’s work and other Western Desert artists is that they are a visual writing and speak to the Aboriginal as books do to Europeans.
Subjects and Themes:
Men’s Ceremony, possum, fire, kangaroo, snake, fish, man’s love story.
Awards & Commissions and Publications are too numerous to list. Email for more information.
Collections include-
Artbank, Sydney.
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth.
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia.
Broken Hill Art Gallery.
Donald Kahn collection, Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami.
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Pacific Asia Museum, Los Angeles.
Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra.
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
South Australian Museum, Adelaide.
The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth.
The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica, U.S.A.
Highest Price Paid: $2.4 million