CLIFFORD POSSUM TJAPALTJARRI started his professional artistic career in
the early 1970s and did not put his brush down until 2002 when he was forced to
do so after falling seriously ill with cancer, which claimed his life shortly
after. According to Susan McCulloch, as cited in the `Australian Art Collector`
magazine issue 28, Clifford Possum
"...hardly had time to live his own history
before he became a legend and is now well into a mythological status."
Susan McCulloch is one of Australia`s most respected art critics and in this same magazine she also stated that "...Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri`s legacy may outlast that of all the central desert painters." This is a strong statement, which might not sit well with certain people, but it is, nevertheless, an informed opinion.
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri was not just a painter, but a gifted artist, who excelled in colour and composition and created motifs like the `hair string spindle` in his `Man's Love Story`, for example, that became iconographical symbols in the visual language of Contemporary Aboriginal Art. Another example is Clifford Possum's iconic fire motif featured in the artist`s `Fire Dreaming` paintings, though newly created motifs alone are but a fraction of the sum of Clifford Possum's influence on Aboriginal Art, as his compositions as a whole have had an enormous impact on Aboriginal painters across Australia.
To date, it is unknown as to how many paintings Clifford Possum actually created with his own hand, but once all the fakes and family paintings have been cleared from the artist`s 0wn body of works it may be discovered that the Master might have only created around 3000 paintings -if that- in his 30 year career. Many of these paintings will prove to be small works regularly created for everyday living expenses, while a small number will be more grandeur in size and in some instances masterworks. Some small works too will be found to be masterworks, as is the case with Clifford Possum's first paintings created on small boards during the 1970s and on linen during the 1990s.
All of Clifford Possum's paintings, however, are important, as every work by this Master has some unique quality all of its own. Meaning, that there is no such thing as a `bad` Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri painting, but rather paintings by this artist with different degrees of excellence. This is so, because Clifford Possum could not create a poor work, as his astute/innate sense of aestheticism prevented him from doing so. So too his passion to record his beloved inherited culture, which was the fundamental driving force behind the artist`s creative endeavours.
It is clear that the art world has some way to go before a complete understanding of the artist`s work is fully recognized, likewise in relation to Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri`s life. For now, however, what is known is enough to conclude that this Master from the desert offered the world a unique body of art that will be treasured for all time, as will the man, who is without question the most significant artist in Australia`s Art History.
The most recent accolade bestowed upon Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri is the
inclusion of one of his paintings in a pure silver collectable coin set
commemorating four Australian 20th Century Artists, which was produced by the
Royal Australian Mint. The title of this collection is `2007 Masterpieces in
Silver 11`. The coloured coin features Clifford Possum's 1980 Honey Ant
Dreaming. This coin is first coloured coin that the Royal Australian Mint has
ever produced. (SOLD OUT)
2007 Masterpieces in Silver 11
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