GOOD ONE THAT ONE!
Sitting down observing the creativity of the central desert painters, whether it be a very well known and respected artist or one of the younger emerging artists who have grown up watching their elders paint is a mesmerizing experience according to Anna Kanaris, Director of Artitja Fine Art.
I love seeing the expressions on the face of the artists upon completion of a painting. The responses can be anything from indifference for the painting that the artist obviously doesn’t think is their best work, to a little smirk of satisfaction, to an all out burst of pride and exclamation of mwarre anthurre! (pronounced murun-dora) “ which means good one. That painting gets the big thumbs up, says, Ms Kanaris of Artitja Fine Art whose exhibition MWARRE ANTHURRE “ Good One! opens on Saturday 7th March in South Fremantle
The show features art from the remote central desert regions of Utopia and Mt Liebig, and as the title suggests, will feature works from some of the best artists of the region in amongst a talented pool of newer, younger artists whose artistic expression is an intertwining of traditional storytelling resulting in a new, fresh and more contemporary approach to indigenous art.
Some of these artists who have begun painting more recently have grown up watching their elders tell their stories on canvas, and are now taking that to the next stage of cultural expression “ mixing the old with the new says Ms Kanaris. I think it is very exciting seeing this development and what is slowly emerging is a new wave of artists from the desert, and if you like, a new stylistic direction.
The works on display have been personally selected for the exhibition by Ms Kanaris on her latest bush trip earlier this year and have been selected both for quality and affordability.
The exhibition also features exquisite weaves by well known Nyoongah Bush Sculptor, Janine McAullay Bott, whose woven palm tree frond figures are always an anticipated exhibition highlight.
Janine will be demonstrating her skills in the gallery on Sunday 15th March from 1pm.
Artitja Fine Art Directors Anna Kanaris and Arthur Clarke operate a home based gallery in South Fremantle, open by appointment, They also hold up to four exhibitions a year in a gallery space, ensuring that a wider Perth audience can easily access the work, and learn about the culture and art of Australia’s Indigenous people from the central and western desert.
MWARRE ANTHURRE “ Good One is free to the public, open 10am to 6pm daily from March 7th at Earlywork Gallery, 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle.
For further information, please contact Anna Kanaris on 9336 7787 or 0418 900 954 or visit www.artitja.com.au
