ROVER THOMAS JOOLAMA (1926-1998) Dreamtime Country, 1984 Natural pigments on composite panel Signed, dated and titled on the back 61 x 90 cm Natural earth pigment on composition board Signed, dated and titled on the reverse 24 x 35 3/8 in. Provenance Collected in the field in the mid-1980s Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings, Cat. no. 6470 Private collection, Germany A certificate of authenticity from the "Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings" dated 2001 will be given to the buyer. Notes Rover Thomas Joolama (1926-1998) was a major Wangkajunga and Kukatja artist whose work has profoundly influenced contemporary Australian Aboriginal art. Born near Punmu along the Canning Cattle Trail in Western Australia's sandy desert, Thomas spent his youth travelling the cattle routes of the north before settling in the East Kimberley. There he worked as a cowherd while immersing himself in the cultural traditions of the Gija people. His artistic journey began in the early 1980s, inspired by a spiritual experience after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. He began painting with ochre on canvas, depicting landscapes and stories from his ancestral lands. His distinctive style, with its minimalist compositions and aerial perspective, reflects deep spiritual and historical ties with the land. In 1990, Thomas gained international recognition by representing Australia at the Venice Biennale. His work can now be found in the collections of major institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, testifying to his lasting legacy in the art world.