Hermannsburg School

The Hermannsburg School is an art movement, or art style, which began at the Hermannsburg Mission in the 1930s. The best known artist of the style is Albert Namatjira. The movement is characterised by watercolours of western-style landscapes that depict the often striking colours of the Australian outback.

History

Located 125 km west of Alice Springs, in Central Australia, Hermannsburg was founded by Lutheran missionaries in 1877. The Western Arrernte people have lived in this region for thousands of years. In 1941 Rex Battarbee founded the Aranda Art Group, which controlled the supply of materials and helped handle the business affairs of the emerging artists.™

Style

The Hermannsburg painters' work is characterised by soft hues, usually water colours, of their Western Arrernte landscape, which European settlers named the Western Macdonnell Ranges. Previously, Western Arrernte people had only used art in a ceremonial sense, as topographical interpretations of their country and their particular Dreamings, painted using symbols.

Early works by Albert also conveyed this spiritual connection with the land. They shared an intimate knowledge of the land on which they had lived for thousands of years. The Ghost Gum features prominently in the works, a sacred and important part of Western Arrernte mythology. In the best works by Otto Pareroultja trees were painted as ancestral beings with body-like trunks & arm-like branches.

Members

Albert Namatjira began his distinctive style after seeing an exhibition by travelling artists to the mission, Rex Battarbee and John Gardner, in the 1930s. Other artists from the Hermannsburg school include Wenten Rubuntja, Walter Ebatarinja, Otto Pareroultja, and his brothers Ruben and Edwin, not to mention Albert's sons, Enos, Oscar, Ewald, Maurice and Keith and his grandson Gabriel. Other members of the school include the Henoch and Herbert Raberaba brothers.

Legacy

The Hermannsburg School represented a major change of direction for Australian aboriginal art.^[1] The works produced by the movement were accessible to collectors who were more familiar with western-style landscapes.^[1] It was also a successful economic model for aboriginal communities.^[1] Today Hermannsburg is also well known for its potters, particularly its women.

References

1 2 3 Barrett Newkirk (20 October 2006). "Just deserts for Namatjira". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2010.

External links

Central and Western Desert art

Institutions	ANKAAA Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment Contemporary Indigenous Australian art Desart Hermannsburg School List of Australian Indigenous art movements and cooperatives National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Papunya Tula

Significant places	Alice Springs, Northern Territory Balgo, Western Australia Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya, Northern Territory Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia Utopia, Northern Territory Yuendumu, Northern Territory

Artists: women	Josepha Petrick Kemarre Lucy Napaljarri Kennedy Emily Kngwarreye Doreen Reid Nakamarra Ada Andy Napaltjarri Biddy Rockman Napaljarri Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri Eileen Napaltjarri Helen Nelson Napaljarri Kitty Pultara Napaljarri Linda Syddick Napaltjarri Louisa Napaljarri Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri Mona Rockman Napaljarri Ngoia Pollard Napaltjarri Nora Andy Napaltjarri Norah Nelson Napaljarri Parara Napaltjarri Peggy Rockman Napaljarri Sheila Brown Napaljarri Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri Takariya Napaltjarri Tjunkiya Napaltjarri Topsy Gibson Napaltjarri Valerie Lynch Napaltjarri Wintjiya Napaltjarri Makinti Napanangka Dorothy Napangardi Pansy Napangardi Naata Nungurrayi Gloria Petyarre Kathleen Petyarre Nancy Petyarre Minnie Pwerle Maggie Napaljarri Ross Barbara Weir

Artists: men	Albert Namatjira Wenten Rubuntja Paddy Japaljarri Stewart Anatjari Tjakamarra Kaapa Tjampitjinpa Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri Timmy Payungka Tjapangati Yannima Tommy Watson

Major works	Earth's Creation Gulgardi Warlugulong

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