Namatjira, Albert (1902-59). He was, perhaps, one of Australia's
greatest painters. He was a "full-blooded" member of the Aranda, and
was born at the Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission near Alice Springs,
Northern Territory. He spent his early years as a station hand. In
1934 he met the artists Rex Battarbee and John Gardner when they
visited the Mission. Battarbee gave him lessons in watercolour
painting. N's work was exhibited in 1938 in Melbourne at the Fine
Arts Society Gallery. All work was sold witihn two days of the
opening. Regular exhibitions over the ensuing years brought financial
success and lionisation by white society.
This was in tragic conflict with Namatjira's legal status as an
Aborigine. Tribal obligations that demanded sharing of wealth also
caused problems. In 1958 Namatjira was incarcerated for distributing
alcohol to other Aborigines. He died in 1959, six months after his
release. He was spirit was broken.
vide: Namatjira : wanderer between two worlds (Adelaide, SA : Rigby,
1976.)
If information is still needed on Truganini, let me know.
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Xalid ABD-UL-WAHID
Cataloguing Librarian
Northern Territory University Library
PO Box 41246
Casuarina NT 0811
Telephone: 089-466-011
Facsimile: 089-451-317
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