TOMMY LOWRY TJAPALTJARRI

Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs
Private collection, Adelaide

Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia, New York, October 1988 - December 1988; David and Alfred Smart Gallery, University of Chicago, Illinois, January - March 1989; Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, California, May - August 1989; Museum of Victoria, September - December 1989; South Australian Museum, February to April 1990;

Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 18 August  - 12 November 2000

 

Perkins, H., and H. Fink, (eds.), Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2000, p.94 illus.

Sutton, P., (ed.), Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia, Viking, Melbourne, 1988, p.63, fig.90, illus.

The painting is unframed, and has a thick 'museum' foam core backing attached to the behind, which protects and obscures the reverse of the canvas. Canvas has worn through at the lower right hand corner (restretching and repair is recommended). There appears (very difficult to decipher) to have been an area of restoration to a small hole approximately 45cm from the lower margin, and 80cm from the left hand edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cf. For other major works by the artist from the latter part of his career, see Two Men Dreaming at Kuluntjarranya, 1983, in the Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, in Perkins and Fink 2000, p.95, illus.; Warrmala the Serpent, 1986, and Voice of the Moon, 1987, in Isaacs, J., Australian Aboriginal Paintings, Weldon Publishing, New South Wales, 1989, pp. 43 and 45 respectively, illus.; and Tingari Dreaming, 1986, in Crumlin, R. and A. Knight, Aboriginal Art and Spirituality, Dove Publications, Melbourne, 1995, p.78, plate 44, illus

Two Men Dreaming at Kuluntjarranya, 1984, is the artist's most acclaimed work, having been shown in the groundbreaking 1988 exhibition curated by the South Australian Museum, Dreamings. The art of Aboriginal Australia, at the Asia Society Galleries, New York, and touring to venues in the United States and Australia. Also known as Tommy Tichewan and Tommy No.4, Tommy Lowry was an occasional but highly talented painter for Papunya Tula Artists. Although he had started out carving wooden implements for the company, he quickly developed into a fine painter with a distinct style.

The following narrative is based on the documentation accompanying the painting. The country depicted in this painting is southwest of Kintore. Two ancestral Wati Kujarra (two men) who were ngangkaris, or traditional Aboriginal doctors, were travelling in the area. They found some minykulpa (very strong native tobacco) and sat down on some sandhills to eat it (lower left corner of painting). It was so strong that they died, sprawled out on their backs with their legs wide apart on the sand. Their bodies began to urinate. The urine flow was so great that the ground became saturated and a great salt lake was formed. The lake exists today and is called Kumpukurra (bad urine). After the lake was formed the Two Men came to life and travelled over this area, having further adventures. The large roundels are the lakes; the circle at the bottom left with surrounding oblong lines is the tobacco plant

This painting is sold with an accompanying Papunya Tula Artists certificate.