Title
Snakes and fish anticipating rain
circa 1950s
Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Milingimbi
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Central Arnhem Land
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Northern Territory
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Australia
- Date
- circa 1950s
- Media category
- Bark painting
- Materials used
- natural pigments on bark
- Dimensions
- 44.0 x 17.0 cm (irreg.)
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 1962
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- IA5.1962
- Copyright
- © Dawidi Estate. Licensed by Aboriginal Artists Agency Ltd
- Artist information
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Dawidi Birritjama
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
Dawidi explores the potential of diverse infill in the painting 'Snakes and fish anticipating rain' c1950s. Divided into two fields, the upper section contains two simple fish, set between bands of fresh water. In the lower section seven snakes eagerly travel in one direction, while one defiant fish breaks through, forcing its way upstream in the opposite direction. With each figure individually adorned and sparkling fields of dots included in the background, it is a striking work, alive with the intensity of country that will be brought by the anticipated rains.
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Places
Where the work was made
Milingimbi
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Exhibition history
Shown in 3 exhibitions
Bulada, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 23 Aug 1997–14 Dec 1997
A material thing - Objects from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 31 Aug 1998–09 Feb 1999
Art from Milingimbi: taking memories back, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 12 Nov 2016–29 Jan 2017
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Bibliography
Referenced in 4 publications
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Steven Miller, Tradition today: Indigenous art in Australia, 'Dawidi Djulwarak', pg. 46, Sydney, 2004, 46, 47 (colour illus.).
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Hetti Perkins and Ken Watson, A material thing - objects from the collection, Sydney, 1999.
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Cara Pinchbeck, Art from Milingimbi, ‘Dawidi’, pg. 64-71, Sydney, 2016, 70 (colour illus.), 140.
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Daniel Thomas, Look, 'Diverse memories: From the Gallery’s new wing to planted koalas and igneous rock', pg. 29-31, Sydney, Feb 2010, 31 (colour illus.). Excerpts of transcript located in the AGNSW archives compiled by Steven Miller.
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