Find Lots

• Auction House:
  Deutscher and Hackett
• Sale Name:
  Important Aboriginal + Oceanic Art Auction
• Sale Date:
  27 Mar 2013 ~ 7pm
• Lot #:
  45
• Lot Description:
  Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford
  c1922 – 2007
  Fig Tree, 1998
  natural earth pigment and synthetic binder on linen
  120.0 x 160.0 cm
  initialled verso: PB; inscribed verso: title and Jirrawun Aboriginal Arts cat. 98.27
• Provenance:
  Jirrawun Aboriginal Arts, Kununurra; Martin Browne Fine Art, Sydney; Private collection, Sydney
• Exhibited:
  My Mother’s Country, My Father’s Country: New Paintings by Paddy Bedford, Martin Browne Fine Art, Sydney, 12 September – 8 October 2000
• References:
  Storer, R., Paddy Bedford, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2006, p. 145 (illus.)
• Notes:
  Catalogued as painting PB 1998.27 in Bedford’s chronological index of works, this painting dates from 1998, the first year of the artist’s painting career. Depicting the country of Jamelayigoon (Fig Tree Hole), located to the north of Lerdijwaneman (Lightning Creek). The site is characterised by a river running between high cliffs and large cave on the rock face. This is the dreaming place of Woonyjoorroony (the Rock Wallaby) and along the river are waterholes that are the dreaming place of Birlinji (the red river gum). The area is associated with Bedford’s father who was born close by, at Wirndoowoon. Bedford’s personal dreaming Minjiwarrany (black plum) was inherited from his father and is also associated with this place. Stylistically, Fig Tree carries further the manner and sparseness that characterised the east Kimberley school. His use of ochre colours and bold abstract forms contained in a defined structure and articulated by an outline of minimal dotting is similar to the work of Rover Thomas and Freddie Timms. At this early stage of his works, the gold ochres of his palette predominate over brown and black. In later works, his colours evolved to incorporate softer, more delicate hues, and further changed to explore more intense colours of yellows, reds, blues and pinks. In 2006 Paddy Bedford was honoured with a major retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and he was also one of eight Aboriginal artists commissioned to provide work for the new Musée du quai Branly in Paris. "Related Works: Jamelayigoon, Fig Tree Hole, 2004, illus. in Petitjean, G., et al., Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht, and Snoeck Editions, the Netherlands, 2010, p. 75 Fig Tree Hole, 1998, Victory Hole (Fig Tree Hole), 1999, and Fig Tree Hole, 2005, illus. in Storer, R., Paddy Bedford, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2006, pp. 144, 146, 158"
• Estimate:
  A$50,000 - 70,000
• 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.