How Rover told the Australian Massacres

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The topic might seem peaceful. Rover Thomas Joolama produced paintings showing the Australian landscape from the sky, vertical, such as maps. A river meanders, separating land that resembles a property land map.

Titles are less happy. The work done in 1991 for sale by Sotheby's in Melbourne on July 20, 100 x 168 cm, is named Massacre Site - Old Texas Downs.

Indeed the artistic will of Rover is quite different from the metaphysical intention behind other Aboriginal artists, including Emily Kame Kngwarreye who was previously discussed in this group. Rover locates killings that remained in the memory of Aborigines during the two centuries of violence that have opposed them to the Whites for the control of land and especially the control of cattle.

The work for sale, situated as I understand close to the village of Texas in Queensland, is accompanied by a sound recording in which the artist recounts the successive movements of the protagonists. So will be perpetuated by the desire of the artist the terrible impressions from painful episodes in the history of Australia.

The material consists of natural pigments and bush gums on linen. The work is estimated 180 KA$.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The artwork of Rover has not been sold. It was however well documented by its audio recording. Despite the interest of Australians to their country, what Rover was doing might be too atypical.

An excellent result, 504 KA$ premium included, was obtained in this sale on a very early artwork (1895) showing people engaged in ritual activities. The artist was William Barak.