Title
Dreaming before a circumcision
(circa 1959)
Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Milingimbi
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Central Arnhem Land
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Northern Territory
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Australia
- Date
- (circa 1959)
- Media category
- Bark painting
- Materials used
- natural pigments on bark
- Dimensions
- 61.0 x 36.5 cm (irreg.)
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Dr Stuart Scougall 1959
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- IA42.1959
- Copyright
- © Bilinyara Estate. Licensed by Aboriginal Artist Agency Ltd, Sydney.
- Artist information
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Bob Bilinyara
Works in the collection
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About
Bob Bilinyara was central to the group of artists working in Milingimbi in the 1950s. Like Makani he later resided in Maningrida, where he played a leading role mentoring younger artists, and also at Nangalala. He was among the group of Yolngu men enlisted as part of Donald Thompson’s Special Reconnaissance Unit, charged with protecting Australia’s northern coastline during the later stages of World War II. Bilinyara was also a respected surgeon; in this work, he gives figurative form to those involved in an initiation ceremony.
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Places
Where the work was made
Milingimbi
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 17 Aug 1960–18 Sep 1960
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane, Oct 1960–Oct 1960
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, National Gallery of Victoria [Swanston Street], Melbourne, Nov 1960–Dec 1960
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, Western Australian Art Gallery, Perth, Feb 1961–Mar 1961
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, National Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Apr 1961–Apr 1961
Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, May 1961–Jun 1961
Art from Milingimbi: taking memories back, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 12 Nov 2016–29 Jan 2017
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Frederick D. McCarthy, Australian Aboriginal art: bark paintings, carved figures, sacred and secular objects: an exhibition arranged by the State art galleries of Australia, 1960-1961, 'Introduction', pg. 7-17, Sydney, 1960, 23. cat.no. 44
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Cara Pinchbeck, Lindy Allen and Louise Hamby, Art from Milingimbi, Sydney, 2016, 42 (colour illus.), 140.
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