BUSH TOMATO, 1990
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
121.0 x 91.0 cm
inscribed with artist's name and Delmore Gallery catalogue number verso: ON15 Emily KNgWARREyE/ ON15 / commissioned by Delmore Gallery, N.T. AUST. 0872
accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Delmore Gallery, Northern Territory
Commissioned by Delmore Gallery, Northern Territory
William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
Applied Chemicals Collection, Melbourne
Of My Country: Emily Kame Kngwarreye, The Applied Chemicals Collection, Bendigo Art Gallery, 1 - 30 May 1999, and touring various venues throughout Victoria and New South Wales, June 1999 - April 2000
Currently on display in Earthly Reflections of Heavenly Things, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne, 7 November 2007 - 17 February 2008
The transformation of the desert after an early Spring rain has a different colour and mood than the more frequently occurring Summer rains that ride on the tail of the tropical monsoon from the north. The colours are more sombre, even murky, of misty dawns over lightly frosted grasses and wildflowers. The movement of colour from the dry earth tones to lush green growth is slow, and an apprehensive mood is all-pervading as all life waits hoping that an early glimpse of warmth will give the plants that final bit of zest to produce a desert in full-carpeted bloom. Once this happens, the bloom is brief and settles into an everlasting dry state.
The year 1990 had one of those rare seasons, hence it is not surprising that Emily Kngwarreye has gone with the mood of her country and produced this work. Her inspiration in this instance comes from a small wild tomato bush called 'katjera' that produces a fruit that can only be eaten when yellow, not green.
JANET HOLT
Delmore Downs, Northern Territory