Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri 1929 - 1984 BUSHFIRE DREAMING

Painted at Papunya in 1979
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs
Private collection
Joel Fine Art, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 5 June 2007, Lot 141
Private collection

The painting is housed in a contemporary wooden box frame and the painting appears in good and stable order, though the corners are considerably worn through rubbing and scuffing.
"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."

This painting is sold with an accompanying Papunya Tula Artists certificate that reads: 'During the "Dreaming" a father and son were camped at the site of Anyupa, which is now Napperby Station approximately 200 km north west of Alice Springs. Each day the men, who were of the Tjungurrayi and Tjapaltjarri kinship subsection, went out from their camp in search of food. They searched the rocky hills for euro and the flatter areas for kangaroo. One day when they returned from hunting they discovered their puri (wet weather shelter), had burnt down. This site is now marked by a large overhanging rock, which is said to be the metamorphosed shelter of mythological men.

The central set of concentric circles represents the men's camp while the sparks of the fire which consumed the shelter are depicted by small triangular shapes. The tracks of the men as they travelled out from the camp in search of food are represented by sinuous lines leading out to the edge of the painting. The shapes in the background represent the leaves used by the men to build the shade, while the grey dots are the ashes left by the fire.'