an abstract painting of pink and orange squares on a black background
Premium FauveParis

128 - Kudditji Kngwarreye (Alyawarre) (c.
See original version (French)

Estimate €2,800 - €3,500
Sale commission
Description
Kudditji Kngwarreye (Alyawarre) (c. 1928–2017) My Country / Mon Pays Acrylic on Belgian linen canvas, signed on the reverse 92 x 92 cm Provenance: > Private collection (Île-de-France) Kudditji was born in Alhalkere in the Northern Territories, 280 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, in the year of the Coniston massacre. His tribe left the area to escape the unrest following the massacre. He is the brother of Emily Kngwarreye (in terms of Aboriginal law, not biologically). His ancestral totem is the emu. He is the principal custodian of the Emu Dreaming. He worked as a cattle dyer and later in the mines. He began painting in the mid-1980s alongside other men from Utopia. His early works were very meticulous, featuring very neat, round spots. His paintings depicted the emu’s Dreaming, but on special occasions he produced more abstract works in the style of Emily. Kudditji is one of the few Aboriginal Australian painters to have produced both dreamtime paintings featuring highly detailed representations and, like Emily, to have developed a very contemporary abstract style. This painting draws on the same inspiration as his sister Emily’s work. He paints the secret emotions evoked in him by his homeland, its laws and its cultures. His painting is composed of blocks of colour representing his region of Utopia. The central square of this painting depicts the waterhole at the heart of the artist’s region. Elements of ceremonies taking place within the landscape are depicted. It is an expression of his ‘Aboriginal identity’ and the secrets associated with it, which cannot be revealed to the uninitiated. These secrets are revealed during ceremonies where this painting serves as a representation of the country, a medium for the secret stories told orally. MJ
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Modern art • Contemporary art • Art Brut • Kinetic art • Photography • Aboriginal art
Auction location
Auction time 09/19/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like