Title: The dynamic terrain of the contemporary desert
Abstract: The first generation of great desert artists created sublime visual testimonies to the indivisibility of country, family and 'Tjukurrpa', and produced an art movement that swept the world. With the passing of these artists there was an expectation that the Western Desert painting movement would lose its authority and authenticity. Instead, in the dynamic terrain of the contemporary desert, a handful of first contact painters continue to synthesise the numinous energy of country and culture into astonishing works of art, while a new generation experiments with form and medium, and takes out major prizes in some of the richest art awards in Australia. Vincent Namatjira, grandson of Albert, has twice had a self-portrait hung in the Archibald, with his highly commended 2018 'Studio self-portrait' revealing an artist in supreme control of his medium and his artistic intention. The 2018 Wynne Prize was won by Yukultji Napangati with a shimmering traditional painting, and the Sulman by Kaylene Whiskey with one of her wry takes on popular culture, Indigenous style. Anangu artist Peter Mungkuri won the 2017 inaugural Hadley's Art Prize. This year a third of the Hadley and Wynne finalists have been Indigenous.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
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