Rover Thomas
Rover Thomas Two men dreaming c1985, Art Gallery of New South Wales © Estate of Rover Thomas, courtesy Warmun Art Centre. Copyright Agency
Two men dreaming c1985
Rover Thomas’s landscapes vacillate between figuration and abstraction to suggest the topography of the East Kimberley and the presence of unseen forces within it. In Two men dreaming, the form of an old man turned to stone is accentuated by the white gleam of the rising moon. The man’s weapons – a fighting stick and boomerang – lie on either side of him, while the blackened form at the bottom of the work is sweetwater: deep living water that is life sustaining.
While his cultural connections are to the Western Desert region, Thomas was instrumental to the development of painting practices in the East Kimberley, laying the foundations for a distinct art style now synonymous with the region.
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K–6 discussion questions
Two men dreaming depicts the form of an old man turned to stone as he sits by a waterhole with sweet water. Sweet or living water refers to a water source, such as a rock hole or soakage, that is fed by an underground spring. Why are these waterholes so important? Can you think of other words used to describe water? Can you see the moonlight reflecting on the rock and the water? Identify the colours Thomas has used to create this effect.
Look closely and notice the texture of the painted surface. Describe the bumps, grains and grit. What do you think the paint is made from? Are we looking at this Country from the ground or the sky?
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K–6 activities
Why do you think Thomas chose black for the colour of the waterhole at night? Find other images of lakes, rivers, billabongs and the ocean at night. Study the light, its reflections and shadows. Take a photo or make a painting of water in the moonlight with these ideas in mind.
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7–12 discussion questions
Study Two men dreaming and describe the tones, textures, colours and perspective. In what ways does this work represent the landscape? Is there a horizon line? Consider how the viewer’s perspective and the use of materials contribute to creating a sense of place.
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7–12 activities
Locally sourced ochres are an important material in Thomas’s work. Select materials that hold memories or associations for you and use them to create an artwork. Think about the symbolic or metaphorical qualities of the materials and how they communicate ideas. Present your work with a description of the materials and how they contribute to the significance of the work.
Research the Warmun school of painting established by Thomas and other late senior painters Paddy Jaminji and Queenie McKenzie. Learn about Thomas’s role in developing the Gurrir Gurrir ceremony, and its continuing importance for artists and community of the East Kimberley. Discuss why East Kimberley art has been described as ‘painting Country with Country’.