Find Lots

• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Australian Indigenous & Oceanic Art
• Sale Date:
  06 Jun 2016 ~ 6.30pm
• Lot #:
  54
• Lot Description:
  Leo Melpi Maru
  (born 1940)
  Untitled (circa 1990s)
  natural earth pigments on canvas
  120 x 180 cm
• Provenance:
  Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Western Australia (AP0246); Helen Read Collection, Darwin (PALYA-2442HR)
• Notes:
  This painting is sold subject to a Warringarri Aboriginal Arts Certificate. Leo Melpi Maru was born in August 1935, a member of the Yek Maninh people of Wadeye, 320 kms southwest of Darwin. A region of monsoon and mangrove forests, beautiful pristine beaches, mountain ranges, floodplains and fluctuating rivers, parts of Leo's country is considered still to be often impenetrable. Speaking Murrinh Patha as his first and main language, Leo was a bark-painter in the 1980's later becoming known for his 'Pictorial Painting', works of which are held in collections such as the National Gallery of Australia. Full of narrative, this detailed Pictorial Painting – with the artists' classic geometric design – includes four 'windows' looking on to live-action scenes. Leo opens the shutters onto the abundant food sources and places of significance in his country whilst all the time weaving through the whole image the tensions and responsibilities of cultural knowledge. The hunting scene, bottom left, places the hunter almost walking out of the picture in earnestness to tell us, the viewer, of his rich, important life; the power and resourcefulness of his country. Helen Read
• Estimate:
  A$7,000 - 10,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

  Can't see the realised price? Upgrade your subscription now!

• Category:
  Art

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.