25cmx25cm (image only)

unframed

editions 22/50 40/50

This is my mother's country past Kildirk area. These hills are called Thoowark. This is the place for spearheads. The stones here are already sharp for the spear.

BIOGRAPHY

Peter was born in 1939 at Newry Sta􏰀on and lived there un􏰀l 1989 when he moved to Ivanhoe Sta􏰀on near Kununurra. He picked co􏰃on while he lived around Kununurra and also worked as a builder's labourer while the township of Kununurra was being built. From there he went to live at Jarnem - Police Hole near the Keep River Na􏰀onal Park. Peter started pain􏰀ng on a regular basis in 2002. Prior to this Peter had completed only one pain􏰀ng in 1995. Since he began pain􏰀ng regularly he has been included in several exhibi􏰀ons within Australia and overseas and is represented in both public and private ciollec􏰀ons within Australia. Peter's images convey the strength and vulnerability of indigenous land, culture and tradi􏰀onal ways. When viewing Peter Newry’s works, one gets the dis􏰀nct impression that this is the outcome of an ar􏰀st who has confidently refined the essence of visual storytelling. Stripped down to the fundamentals, the understated pared back composi􏰀ons are almost mysterious in their elusive sugges􏰀on of power held in check just below the surface. Deeply connected to his prac􏰀ce at a spiritual level, despite the abstracted gestural nature of the brush-strokes and uneven vulnerability of his do􏰄ng these composi􏰀ons can never be mistaken for anything but intensely deliberate.This is the work of an ar􏰀st who is convinced by his own style and representa􏰀on of his “history” and one, who has, over the course of 􏰀me, perfected the juxtaposi􏰀on of flow and delibera􏰀on. Brush strokes, empty spaces and mark making are considered and bold and at the same 􏰀me imbued with a deep sensi􏰀vity. The complexity of Peter’s work is the intriguing fusion of strength and vulnerability. His grand aerial perspec􏰀ves retelling the “history” of his cultural knowledge are powerful composi􏰀ons held in balance with a hint of frivolity introduced by way of the irregular applica􏰀on and placement of small white dots, lending each work an animated life and energy Sadly, Peter Newry passed away on 26 January 2012. He has at last entered a spiritual realm that has long been the central theme of his final years as an ar􏰀st. His painti􏰀ngs depicted the subliminal interchange between the seen and the unseen of country. For Peter his works were the true story and history of a land made by the Narrangnarni. He has been a treasured ar􏰀st at Waringarri Arts and will be greatly missed. We trust that he now rests peacefully with the spirit of his country.