Malcolm Maloney Jagamarra, Honey Ant Dreaming, 1991

Artist:
Malcolm Maloney Jagamarra (b. 1955–)

Title:
Honey Ant Dreaming

Date:
1991

In Honey Ant Dreaming, Malcolm Maloney Jagamarra brings to life an important ancestral narrative from the Warlpiri people. The painting depicts the Honey Ant Dreaming (Yarrungkanyi), a sacred story of the creation ancestors who traversed the land and whose presence is still felt within the landscape today.

Using a rich palette of earthy reds, ochres, browns, and vibrant yellows, Jagamarra creates undulating fields of dot work that echo the Australian desert’s shifting sands and sacred topography. Concentric circles represent important ceremonial sites or waterholes. The flowing lines symbolize the paths of the ancestors, and in this case, the honey ants who journey underground, weaving life into the soil. The meticulous arrangement of dots and circular motifs embodies the visual language of Aboriginal Dreaming, where place, story, and spiritual presence converge. Jagamarra’s work honors the traditions passed down through countless generations while presenting them in a style that resonates in contemporary art contexts. 

Artists' note:  Jagamarra often notes that through his painting, he carries on the spiritual stories of his ancestors, ensuring that "the land, the Dreaming, and the people remain one."

Medium: synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Dimensions: 40 1/2 x 30 inches (102.9 x 76.2 cm.), Frame: 43 x 32 1/2 inches (109.2 x 82.6 cm.)

Condition:  Excellent. Surface intact with vibrant, well-preserved pigments.

Provenance: Richard Kelton collection, Santa Monica, California, acquired in 1991 from Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings, Melbourne, cat. no. 813145WW. Exhibited: The Australian Consulate, Los Angeles, 1996 through to 1999; the Australian Consulate, Los Angeles, 22 August 2003 to 31 August 2006; the Australian Consulate, Los Angeles, 8 May 2007- 8 May 2009

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