Indigenous Australia: the beginnings of the Western Desert art movement
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- Start Date: 08 May 2025End Date: 22 May 2025Thu (Daytime): 14:00 - 16:00In PersonFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
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What is the course about?
Just over fifty years have elapsed since the first paintings emerged from a remote settlement at Papunya in Central Australia and which, in turn, began a new art movement. These early paintings now fetch six figure sums on the international market and form a major part of the foundational contemporary art canon in Australia. This course looks closely at key artists and their individual bodies of work including Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa, Anatjari Tjakamarra, Uta Uta Tjangala, Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula and Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra (amongst others). Particular focus will be given to the years 1971-1973 with an emphasis on new scholarship about the events that occurred at Papunya during this time.
After a brief outline of historical, political and social developments in Australia during the first half of the twentieth century which contributed to the inception of the art movement, we will spend time closely examining key masterworks from the earliest years of the movement. The transcultural, intercultural and cosmopolitan worlds of the artists at Papunya will be examined in detail.
What will we cover?
- A brief outline of historical, political and social factors in Australia in the early 1970s
- The role and leadership of Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa at Papunya
- A close visual examination of key masterworks particularly from the years 1971-1973.
- Understanding the unique visual and conceptual innovations which occurred at Papunya and their significance for subsequent contemporary Indigenous Australian art today.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand why Papunya’s establishment and geographic location were significant in creating a new painting movement.
- Identify at least three key works by leading artists of the Papunya Tula school.
- Describe at least three different styles of painting and their significance.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Those who have done Indigenous Australian art: an introduction will have a broad overview of the field, but the course is suitable for all levels and can be done without prior knowledge.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download via the college’s Google Classroom. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date. Please note: the tutor is unable to send documents via email because of copyright and data protection restrictions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
VB160 Tuesday Talks: Emily Kam Kngwarray.
Arjmand is a teacher and researcher in the fields of contemporary Indigenous Australian art and South Asian art. She has been teaching at City Lit since 2016. She holds Honours degrees in Political Science and Law from the Australian National University and an MA in Art History from SOAS University of London. She was Tutor of Indian art for many years for the Diploma of Asian Art programme at SOAS. In 2024 she was awarded a PhD from SOAS University of London. Her doctoral thesis examined how private galleries in London have represented contemporary Indigenous Australian art over a thiry year period. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2020.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.