WATERHOLES AND SANDHILLS IN THE GREAT SANDY DESERT, 2002

Important Australian Indigenous Art
Melbourne
26 March 2024
45

BILLY THOMAS JOONGOORRA

(c.1920 - 2012)
WATERHOLES AND SANDHILLS IN THE GREAT SANDY DESERT, 2002

natural earth pigments and synthetic binder on canvas

100.0 x 80.0 cm

bears inscription verso: artist’s name, date, size and Red Rock Art cat. KP1661

Estimate: 
$7,000 – $9,000
Sold for $8,591 (inc. BP) in Auction 77 - 26 March 2024, Melbourne
Provenance

Red Rock Art, Kununurra, Western Australia
Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney
Private collection, Sydney

This work is accompanied by a copy of a certificate of authenticity from Red Rock Art which states: 
'Throughout the artist country in the Great Sandy Desert, waterholes (soaks and rockholes) exist. Knowledge of these places was crucial to the artist's ability to lead a traditional lifestyle. It was at these places that most ceremony and law was undertaken. This painting shows a typical waterhole (soak) amongst the rolling sand dunes (large curved shapes) of the desert. All of this sandhill country was made in the dreamtime by Gunambalayi- the Black Snake.'