Wally Mandarrk (1915 - 1987)

NGALKIT (SARATOGA–SCLEROPAGES JARDINI)
and
NGALKIT (MALE AND FEMALE, SARATOGA-SELEROPAGES JARDINI AT BENEBENEMDI)
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

i. 42.0 x 81.0 cm (irregular); 61.5 x 102.5 x 10.5 cm (frame)
ii. 31.0 x 78.0 cm (irregular); 61.5 x 102.0 x 16.0 cm (frame)

ii. bears inscription on label verso: Mandark collection/No. 29

Maningrida Arts and Crafts, Northern Territory
The Cbus Collection of Australian Art, Melbourne, acquired from the above on 20 April 1994

Celestial Earth, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Victoria, 19 November 2011 – 4 March 2012
National Treasures, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Victoria, 14 November 2015 – 13 March 2016

Nainby, B., Stanhope, Z., and Furlonger, K., The Cbus Collection of Australian Art, in association with Latrobe Regional Gallery, Melbourne, 2009, p. 225

This work is located in our Melbourne Gallery

Condition:
These works are in good, stable and near original condition. There are light surface abrasions to the bark support of both paintings with minor loss of predominantly white pigment to small areas in both the top and bottom fish in both barks.

The bark platform to the upper work has reverted to its natural curvature. These are old, stable, characteristic of the medium and age of the work, and visible in the enlarged online catalogue image.

Both works are attached with clear plastic clips to a hessian lined backboard, and housed in a custom, dark timber box frame under protective Perspex.