ARTIST ONCE KNOWN - UNTITLED (RARE CARVED CEREMONIAL FIGURE)

ARTIST ONCE KNOWN
UNTITLED (RARE CARVED CEREMONIAL FIGURE),  1950
74.5h x 13w x 6d cm; 79.5h x 13.5w x 11d cm (including stand)
ochre on carved wood, human hair and fabric
 
REGION
Mornington Island, QLD
 
PROVENANCE
Chris Zillman Collection, Qld
The Zillman Museum of Wonders, Imbil, Qld
The Todd Barlin Collection, NSW Cat No. T4274
Private Collection, Vic
 
STORY
This exceptional small and rare carved ceremonial figure marks a transition between sporadic indigenous sculptural art and the subsequent surge of production linked to formal Art Centres. Featuring a ceremonial head-dress, the figure demonstrates a body design painted in vibrant colours against a black background. The expressive facial features with human hair beard and clenched fists convey a sense of anxious anticipation, embodying the tension felt before a ceremony.

This figure beautifully captures the universal tensions and anxieties that arise during the initiation of indigenous ceremonies. Its unique form and vivid decoration reflect the rich cultural expressions of its time, highlighting a pivotal moment in the evolution of indigenous Australian art.
 
EXHIBITED
For similar figure see: Deutscher + Hackett, The Luczo Family collection, Melbourne, 19 October 2016, Lot 60