Untitled
2004
Medium
earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Measurements
80.2 × 120.2 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Mark Young through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2014
© Phyllis Thomas/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Gallery location
Gallery 3
Ground Level, NGV Australia
About this work
Phyllis Thomas began painting when artist Freddie Timms (Ngarrmaliny Janama) set up the Jirrawun Aboriginal Arts group. This work, spare in detail, shows the Boil Dreaming in part of the artist’s Country near Turner River, south-east of Purnululu National Park. Thomas once explained, ‘We never went close to the Boil Dreaming place. We used to walk a long way away from the place. We did not go close because boils might come out all over our body if we went there. My grandmother used to call out to the Country from a safe distance, saying, “We have walked a long way. We don’t want to get boils. We belong to this place. Don’t fail to recognise us. We are behaving in a good way to you.”’
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Crocodile Hole, East Kimberley
Inscription
inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.l.: PHYLLIS THOMAS / PT82002-63
Accession Number
2014.349
Department
First Nations Australia