Phyllis Thomas
Tribe: Gija
Area: Kimberley
Born: Turkey Creek
Phyliss Thomas is a member of the famous Thomas family. The stories depicted are country paintings, typically hills, creeks and bungles, formations that are the Kimberleys. Phyliss’ works depict the textured ochre painting that has characterised work of the Kimberleys.
Her works have been exhibited in nationally in Melbourne and Sydney, and is in the permanent collection of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
The surface narrative elements, which are often, termed the painting’s “story” or “Dreaming” are only one level of and Aboriginal painting’s true significance. The imagery employed by Aboriginal artists has deep cultural resonance, which defies simple logic or narrative interpretation. The Western viewer can however intuitively feel the power of this spiritual resonance without necessarily having to understand the details which are essentially for the initiated only.
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