Jimmy Donegan - PapaTjukurpa 2008. 180 x 200cm Acrylic on canvas
The Harn Museum of Art presents “Vanishing Points: Paintings from the Debra and Dennis Scholl Collection”, on view at the museum through April 29th. The exhibition showcases contemporary artists who push and explore the boundaries of painting. Twenty-seven international artists defy the limits of painting by applying it to large-scale canvases, sculptures and found objects. These works combine to create a rich and exciting visual experience. The collectors, Debra and Dennis Scholl, have been collecting contemporary art for 33 years. They loaned the works for this exhibition, which represents established and emerging artists who work across the boundaries of specific media, providing proactive and new perspectives on art and culture.
“Vanishing Points also reflects a world transformed by contemporary science, technology and media,” said Kerry Oliver-Smith, Harn Curator of Contemporary Art. “Artists expand on historical notions of perspective and spatial orientation opening up multiple and interesting ways of viewing the world.” Artists in the exhibition incorporate the strategies of technology and media in the texture of their work including urban architecture, graphic and automotive design, comics, mapping, sculpture, photography and film. Vanishing Points is a collaboration between the Scholls, the Bass Museum of Art in Miami and the Harn Museum of Art and was co-curated by Kerry Oliver-Smith from the Harn Museum of Art and Gean Moreno from the Bass Museum of Art. The exhibition is made possible by the Sidney Knight Endowment and the Exhibition Circle. The exhibition catalogue is available in the Museum Store.
The exhibition includes the work of the Aboriginal visionary artist Jimmy Donegan.
Jimmy was born near Ngatuntjarra Bore. He grew up in country around Blackstone and Mantamaru. Jimmy has family links throughout the Pitjantjarra lands; his wife is from near Kulka. Jimmy brought his wife and children to live at Blackstone because of Jimmy’s tie to country here. He is widowed and has four children. Jimmy is a wonderful wood craftsman, his spears, spear throwers and boomerangs are prized and much sought after. He is rich in story and a strong man for law and culture.
Papa Tjukurpa Pukara
Ngayu mamaku ngura Dulu (my father’s country rockhole is called Dulu). At this place there are lots of Dingoes living there, digging up the water and hunting at Pilantjara rockhole in the country area of Dulu. This is Papa Walka, Dog design. Pukara is [my] grandfather’s country. It is a story about a sacred men’s site in Western Australia, south of Wingellina. It is a Watersnake Dreaming story. This is where the Watersnake fell down and his elbow makes an indent in the landscape. This is the creation story for the Honey Grevillea. Birds are really scared of this water at Pukara. It is like a “big boss”, this water.
Jimmy Donegan
Jimmy Donegan - Pukara
Jimmy Donegan - Papa Mora
Jimmy Donegan - Papa Tjukurpa Pukara
by Jimmy Donegan
Shamanism & Visionary Art 