THREE SPIRIT FIGURES, 1950s

Part 2: Important Aboriginal Art
Melbourne
27 November 2013
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140

SAMUEL WAGBARA

(1928 - 1979)
THREE SPIRIT FIGURES, 1950s

natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

61.5 x 23.5 cm

Estimate: 
$5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $6,600 (inc. BP) in Auction 32 - 27 November 2013, Melbourne
Provenance

Executed at Minjilang, Croker Island, Western Arnhem Land
Collection of Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, United States of America, acquired in the 1950s
Private collection, Melbourne

Related works

Three Mimih with Didgeridoo and Clapping Sticks, c1960, collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, illus. in Michael, L., (ed.), They are Meditating, Bark Painting from the MCA's Arnott's Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2008, p. 191

Catalogue text

During the 1950s artists on Croker Island were encouraged and commissioned by early collectors and anthropologists such as Tony Tuckson, Dr Stuart Scougall, Ronald and Catherine Berndt, Karel Kupka and Charles Mountford to paint scorcery and magic figures, even though the missionaries strongly disapproved. The works from this period captured the energy of the early rock gallery paintings. Artists who painted in this style include Jimmy Midjawmidjaw, Yiriwala, Paddy Compass Namatbara, January Nangunyari, and Samuel Wagbara.