Rover Thomas (1926-1998). Untitled (Lake Argyle), 1995. Natural earth pigments and synthetic binder on canvas. 42 x 79-1...

Description

Rover Thomas (1926-1998)
Untitled (Lake Argyle), 1995
Natural earth pigments and synthetic binder on canvas
42 x 79-1/2 inches (106.7 x 201.9 cm)
Signed on the reverse: ROVER

Important Australian Art from The Collection of Sir James D. Wolfensohn KBE AO

PROVENANCE:
Utopia Art, Sydney, Australia;
Acquired by the present owner from the above.

EXHIBITED:
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, "Beyond Dreamings," April 20, 2018-July 7, 2019.

LITERATURE:
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, Beyond Dreamings: The Rise of Indigenous Australian Art in the United States, exhibition catalogue, April 20, 2018- July 7, 2019, p. 82, illustrated.

Rover Thomas, an Aboriginal artist of the Wangkajunga and Kukatja language groups, is widely recognized as one of Australia's most significant painters. His work, deeply rooted in First Nations mythology and its connection to geographic sites, explores themes of spirituality, displacement, and European colonialism in relation to the environment. In Thomas's view, while mining or development may desecrate a sacred site, the ancestral spirits remain embedded within the earth. A key figure in the East Kimberley painting movement, Thomas was among the first Indigenous artists to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1990. His legacy continues to shape contemporary Indigenous art.
Lake Argyle, a man-made reservoir formed by damns along the Ord River, submerged a sacred site and displaced indigenous communities, causing profound environmental changes throughout the East Kimberly region. Using natural earth pigments and an aerial perspective, Rover Thomas's Untitled (Lake Argyle) presents the landscape as both a spiritual map and a site of loss. By merging ancestral knowledge with the scars of environmental transformation, Thomas offers a meditation on survival, memory, and continuity.


*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report. Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.