Page 55 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • ARTS

1. Rediscovered Albert Namatjira painting
2. Art conservator Melanie Sorenson
credit: Greg Sorenson
3. Back of the Albert Namatjira painting
4. Albert Namatjira Portrait, 1950

UNIQUE OCCUPATION “We live in a really diverse region for
art and culture and I am constantly
Melanie Sorenson is no stranger amazed at what’s brought to me.”
to hidden treasures and forgotten As the only qualified paper
fortunes. Over the past two years as conservator in the region, Melanie’s
a sole trading art conservator, she’s work didn’t slow down with the rest
repaired and renewed everything of the world this year. She’s been
from marriage certificates to busy consulting and quoting clients
christening gowns, and photo over video calls, receiving more
albums to centuries-old books. and more precious packages since
Melanie told Tropic her work here people have had time to tackle that
4 is challenging due to the diverse long overdue spring clean.
climate – “so much mould!” – Melanie first studied visual
AN ICON FOR INDIGENOUS but above all, phenomenal and communications and art history
AUSTRALIANS rewarding. in Adelaide, which led her to
“I really love art and history of
Albert Namatjira is internationally Melbourne for a Masters of Cultural
recognised for his Western-style course, and the way people connect Material Conservation/Paper
watercolours of outback landscapes – a with their sentimental heirlooms,” Conservation after realising her
departure from traditional Aboriginal art. she said. passion was with conserving rather
Although he only started painting in his “People show me their item and tell than curating.
early 30s, the Arrernte man’s work quickly me their story – they really connect She then worked at the National
drew attention from dignitaries around with their memories through Library of Australia for eight years,
the world, including Queen Elizabeth II. something physical or tangible. before coming up to Cairns to be
He was awarded the Queen's Coronation “They’ll come to me and talk for two with family in 2018.
Medal in 1953 and met the Queen in hours or more, which helps
Canberra the year after. me understand the life an object MORE: sartconservation.com
It wasn’t until 1957 that Namatjira was has had.
granted restricted Australian citizenship,
becoming the first Aboriginal person with
the right to vote, to own property and to
drink alcohol. What’s on at Cairns Art Gallery
The same rights weren’t extended to the December 11 to March 14 | Free entry
rest of the Indigenous population until
the 1967 Referendum.
At the time of his death in 1959, he had Albert Namatjira and the Ben Quilty, The Entangled
worked on around 2000 paintings. Hermannsburg School Landscape
The late artist’s legacy is carried by his The Hermannsburg School of Internationally regarded as one of
great grandson, Vincent Namatjira, who Artists formed in the 1940s and Australia’s leading contemporary
this year became the first Aboriginal artist 50s following the inspiring work of artists, Ben Quilty challenges
to win the Archibald Prize. Albert Namatjira. This exhibition relationships between the personal
The 37-year-old won Australia’s most features watercolour paintings by and the cultural. Quilty chooses
prestigious portraiture prize for Stand the generations succeeding the images of tourist destinations
Strong For Who You Are, a painting of original Hermannsburg artists, with a dark history, creating
himself and Australian Rules footballer including Enos Namatjira and sinister images to explore complex
Adam Goodes. Hubert Pareroultja, winner of this issues. His works have a sense of
A painting of Albert Namatjira by William year’s Wynne Prize for landscape unresolved urgency, leaving viewers
Dargie also won the Archibald Prize. painting. Together, these works without ease or escape.
Awarded in 1956, Dargie’s work was the capture the ethereal beauty of the
first painting of an Aboriginal person to MacDonnell Ranges. MORE: cairnsartgallery.com.au
win the prize.

55 • tropicnow.com.au