Rover Thomas (1926)
Professions: Painter
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ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) CIRCA 1926-1998
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ROVER THOMAS CIRCA1926-1998 RAIN CLOUD 1990
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ROVER (JOOLAMA) THOMAS (CIRCA 1926-1998)
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ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) , CIRCA 1926-1998 RUBY PLAINS MASSACRE Natural earth pigments and binders (bush gums) on canvas
Rover Thomas Biography
(b Kintore Ranges, 1926). Australian Aboriginal painter. He belonged to the Joolama sub-section of the Kukatja Aboriginal group. From an early age he experienced rapid social change as sheep and cattle stations took over much traditional Aboriginal land. He was a stock worker for a number of years, but following government legislation in 1968, whereby many Aboriginal stock workers were sacked, he brought his family to Turkey Creek or Warmun, in the Kimberley Ranges area, in 1975. After first composing a song cycle (the Krill Krill series, 1975) recounting dreamed images of a sequence of sacred sites, which Thomass uncle Paddy Jaminji depicted on painted boards, Thomas began painting boards himself in the early 1980s. He then started using canvas, and interest in his work encouraged him to devote considerable time to painting. His themes broadened rapidly but continued to express the Kimberley landscape as well as real or mythological events of history. His paintings are often sombre in mood, and use negative space to create drama. They are all marked by broad brush strokes, producing bold blocks of colour outlined in fine lines of white dots. In Roads Meeting (ochres on canvas, 0.9*1.8 m, 1986; Canberra, N.G.), the canvas is divided diagonally by two roads, and two hands are depicted outstretched. While the work may be reminiscent of former Aboriginal habitation and cave paintings, Thomass inclusion of two actual stop signs at the crossroads is a symbolic statement about control and movement through the land. Thomass success and the support of the arts organization Waringarri Arts at Warmun have helped to engender an active artistic community there.
Grove Art excerpts - Electronic ©2003, Oxford Art OnlineRover Thomas Sold at AuctionView all Rover Thomas Sold at Auction
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Rover Thomas
ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) CIRCA 1926-1998 PAINTING NO.2, BARRAMUNDI DREAMING 1984
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Rover Thomas
ROVER THOMAS JOOLAMA (CIRCA 1926 - 1998) - Dumbi, Mook Mook, 1995 202 x 240 cm
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Rover Thomas
ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) CIRCA 1926-1998
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Rover Thomas
ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) , CIRCA 1926-1998 BUSH TURKEY AT FROG HOLLOW Natural earth pigments and natural binders on canvas
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Rover Thomas
ROVER THOMAS (JOOLAMA) , CIRCA 1926-1998 BUNKANGRILL COUNTRY (THREE RIVERS) Natural earth pigments and natural binders on canvas
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Rover Thomas
ROVER (JOOLAMA) THOMAS (CIRCA 1926-1998)




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