Figure 1.
Biography
Albert Namatjira (1902-1959) was one of Australia’s most notable artists. His western style landscape paintings became famous because they were entirely different to the traditional Aboriginal art at the time (Mackenzie, 2000, para 1). The landscapes he painted “expressed his personal relationship to the country to which he was spiritually bound” (Caruana, 2003, p.111). Today his artworks of Central Australia are displayed in all Australian State art galleries.
Namatjira was born into the Arrernte community at the Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. At 13 years of age Namatjira was initiated into the Arrernte community and taught the traditional laws and customs (Australian Government, 2013, para. 2). In 1932 when Namatjira was 30 years old, two men Rex Battarbee and John Gardiner visited the Hermannsburg mission and held an exhibition of their paintings depicting Aranda country (Leslie, 2007, p.59). It was during this exhibition that Albert Namatjira was first introduced to the art of watercolour. When he showed remarkable interest in the paintings, Battaarbee agreed to tutor Namatjira in the western tradition of painting (Leslie, 2007, p.60). In 1936 with the help of Battarbee, Namatjira held his first exhibition in Melbourne. The success of the exhibition led to Namatjira being given the opportunity to display his work throughout Australia (Australian Government, 2013 para. 2).
Albert Namatjira’s success led to him becoming a significant figure in the Australian community and consequently became the first Aboriginal person to be granted Australian citizenship and the right to vote (Leslie, 2007, p.82). Namatjira continued to paint the landscapes of his homeland for the rest of his life and at the time of his death had painted around two thousand paintings (Mackenzie, 2000, para. 3). Today he is remembered as one of the great Australian artists and pioneer for Aboriginal rights.
Albert Namatjira (1902-1959) was one of Australia’s most notable artists. His western style landscape paintings became famous because they were entirely different to the traditional Aboriginal art at the time (Mackenzie, 2000, para 1). The landscapes he painted “expressed his personal relationship to the country to which he was spiritually bound” (Caruana, 2003, p.111). Today his artworks of Central Australia are displayed in all Australian State art galleries.
Namatjira was born into the Arrernte community at the Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. At 13 years of age Namatjira was initiated into the Arrernte community and taught the traditional laws and customs (Australian Government, 2013, para. 2). In 1932 when Namatjira was 30 years old, two men Rex Battarbee and John Gardiner visited the Hermannsburg mission and held an exhibition of their paintings depicting Aranda country (Leslie, 2007, p.59). It was during this exhibition that Albert Namatjira was first introduced to the art of watercolour. When he showed remarkable interest in the paintings, Battaarbee agreed to tutor Namatjira in the western tradition of painting (Leslie, 2007, p.60). In 1936 with the help of Battarbee, Namatjira held his first exhibition in Melbourne. The success of the exhibition led to Namatjira being given the opportunity to display his work throughout Australia (Australian Government, 2013 para. 2).
Albert Namatjira’s success led to him becoming a significant figure in the Australian community and consequently became the first Aboriginal person to be granted Australian citizenship and the right to vote (Leslie, 2007, p.82). Namatjira continued to paint the landscapes of his homeland for the rest of his life and at the time of his death had painted around two thousand paintings (Mackenzie, 2000, para. 3). Today he is remembered as one of the great Australian artists and pioneer for Aboriginal rights.
Catherine Boyd S00103367