Albert Namatjira was a Western Aranda man, born in Ntaria Hermannsburg southwest of Mparntwe Alice Springs in 1902.

As a young man, Namatjira worked as a stockman and cameleer and he also carved and painted weapons and tools for sale to tourists. In the mid-1930s, he met fellow artist Reginald Ernest ‘Rex’ Battarbee (1893 – 1973), when Battarbee was visiting the central region to paint. Battarbee taught Namatjira how to work in the watercolour medium, and Namatjira accompanied Battarbee as his cameleer on long excursions in the MacDonnell Ranges where they would both paint the scenes of Namatjira’s Country.

Namatjira’s name has become linked with stunning watercolours depicting the ghost gums, desert and mountain ranges of his home Country that we now all know so well. His instantly recognisable imagery and prolific output testify to the artist’s sustained talent; many of us remember the iconic landscapes from prints hanging in our parents’ homes. Namatjira’s artworks and his story have become part of the Australian psyche.

Namatjira faced many challenges throughout his life, many brought on by the impact of European colonization on his culture. In 1957, he became the first Aboriginal person to gain full citizenship in Australia, yet he still faced brutal discrimination.

He painted until his death in Alice Springs in 1959. He is a celebrated pioneer of Aboriginal art, and an important figure in the history of civil rights activism in Australia. His works are held in national and international collections, and his legacy continues to inspire both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.

The paintings displayed in Watercolour Dreaming are from a collection recently gifted to Bendigo Art Gallery by Dr. Beverley Castleman and her family. Inspired by Dr. Castleman’s research interest and her approach to collecting, the exhibition tells the story of the watercolour movement that started with Albert Namatjira and grew through his generosity and inclusiveness. Artists in the movement included his sons, tribal relatives and tribesmen who learned to paint in the Hermannsburg style. The gift of this collection provides an extraordinary foundation for the Gallery to continue to collect into the future, as artists of today and tomorrow continue to develop and expand the watercolour tradition.

Watercolour Dreaming showcases works by many of the Hermannsburg artists who learned to paint in the Hermannsburg style, such as Namatjira’s sons: brothers Enos, Oscar and Ewald Namatjira, Walter Ebatarinja, brothers Edwin, Otto and Reuben Pareroultja, Henoch Raberaba, and Claude Pannka to name a few. The exhibition includes multiple generations of artists, including three women and some of the grandchildren of the founding members of the movement, who have continued the legacy. The collection demonstrates the range of styles, some who have followed closely in Namatjira’s footsteps and others who have defined their own painting styles. It also affords a chance to observe subtle details, for example, occasional inclusions of people and animals in the landscape, and artists’ decisions to highlight unusual locations and geographic features.

The work of so many artists telling the stories of their Country across decades, brought together in one space, highlights both the powerful unity and mesmerising diversity of the movement.

Watercolour Dreaming at Bendigo Art Gallery is open daily until January 27.