David (JARINYANU) DOWNS   c1925  - 1995

Jarinjanu was born around 1925 in Wangkajunga country, south of Lake Gregory and East of the Canning Stock Route in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. In his early 20’s he left the desert and worked on cattle stations and in gold mining for over 20 years. He began carving artefacts and producing drawings when he moved with his family to Fitzroy Crossing and Adelaide where his paintings were distinguished by an increased use of ochres, a more innovative style, and a wider range of subject matter. These were both figurative and cartographic works illustrating contemporary events and traditional ‘stories’ or dreamings. In later years his work involved an increasing use of acrylic paints in addition to the ochres. His subject matter also broadened to include and integrate Christian ‘stories’ with Aboriginal traditional law.

Reference:

Generations catalogue, p. 12, by Tjalaminu Mia , Research Fellow in Oral History and the Arts, at The Centre for Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia.

Click here to view more Artist Profiles from the Holmes à Court Collection.