Mens dreaming

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

51 x 41cm

$550

Artwork story: The men start travelling from everywhere Japaltjarri and Jungarrayi, (father and son) are travelling to meet up with Jagamarra and Jampitjimpa (grandfather and grandson) from Papunya. ''They come from that way y'know'' (from Mt Wedge) ''They Wati men they meet up cos this one men's business - this Wati one'' The concentric circles depict secret and sacred sites where men's initiation ceremonies take place. Late in the afternoon the men prepare the camp and clear the ground for the ceremony. In preparation for the ceremony the spinifex grass is burnt which produces pure white ash. The ashes are then mixed with kangaroo or emu fat and the colour is used for body painting. The ceremony starts after dark and continues till the early hours in the morning. During the ceremony the Kangaroo Perentie and the Snake men dance and sit around the symbolic ceremonial circle (ceremonial site), chanting song - titles which tell the journeys of the ancestors. They then become one of the totem.

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c.1930 – 2012

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

51 x 41cm

$550

Artwork story: The men start travelling from everywhere Japaltjarri and Jungarrayi, (father and son) are travelling to meet up with Jagamarra and Jampitjimpa (grandfather and grandson) from Papunya. ''They come from that way y'know'' (from Mt Wedge) ''They Wati men they meet up cos this one men's business - this Wati one'' The concentric circles depict secret and sacred sites where men's initiation ceremonies take place. Late in the afternoon the men prepare the camp and clear the ground for the ceremony. In preparation for the ceremony the spinifex grass is burnt which produces pure white ash. The ashes are then mixed with kangaroo or emu fat and the colour is used for body painting. The ceremony starts after dark and continues till the early hours in the morning. During the ceremony the Kangaroo Perentie and the Snake men dance and sit around the symbolic ceremonial circle (ceremonial site), chanting song - titles which tell the journeys of the ancestors. They then become one of the totem.