Albert Namatjira Analysis

2477 Words10 Pages
Albert Namatjira Date: 30th October 2013 Author: Judy Beddoni Namatjira, Albert (Elea) (1902–1959) Albert (Elea) Namatjira (1902-1959), artist, was born on 28 July 1902 at Hermannsburg (Ntaria), Northern Territory, son of Namatjira and his wife Ljukuta. Elea belonged to the western group of the Arrernte people. In 1905 the family was received into the Lutheran Church: Elea (who was given the name Albert) and his father (who took the name Jonathan) were baptized, and his mother was blessed (as Emilie). Albert attended the Hermannsburg mission school. In accordance with the practice of the missions, he lived separately from his parents in a boys' dormitory. LUTHERAN MISSION 1933 At 13 he spent six months in the bush and underwent…show more content…
He also produced poker -work mulga wood plaques and began inscribing them with Biblical texts. He also decorated coat hangers, boomerangs and woomera. In 1932 he received his first art commission from Constable W. Mackinnon. It was for a dozen pokerwork mulga wood plaques, for which Albert received five shillings for each. ALBERT NAMATJIRA BOOMERANG 1936 ALBERT NAMATJIRA WALL PLAQUE c. 1937 Namatjira painted in a unique style. His landscapes normally highlighted both the rugged geological features of the land in the background, and the distinctive Australian flora in the foreground with very old, stately and majestic white gum trees surrounded by twisted scrub. His work had a high quality of illumination showing the gashes of the land and the twists in the trees. His colours were similar to the ochres that his ancestors had used to depict the same landscape, but his style was appreciated by Europeans because it met the aesthetics of western art. ALBERT NAMATJIRA GHOST GUM, CENTRAL AUSTRALIA c. 1945 |…show more content…
During his lifetime (1902-1959) he was a pivotal figure in some of the dramatic changes wrought between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. More than almost any other well-known Australian, his life and stature as an artist reflect the changing attitudes of Australian society in the 20th century. He was torn between two worlds simply because he had the wisdom to recognise both. Albert Namatjira is significant not only because he became the first Aboriginal to be granted Australian citizenship in 1957 but also because of the legacy he left behind as a water colour artist. His artistic legacy was passed on to his children Enos, Oscar, Ewald, Keith and Maurice and many of their children are also now recognized artists. Today the works of Albert Namatjira are found in the major Public Gallery collections throughout Australia, as well as many major Private collections both in Australia and overseas, including a number of works in the Royal Collection in London. Albert Namatjira Legacy Lives on in
Open Document