Jimmy Pike
Artist Statement
'My work is painting and drawing. Telling stories from dreamtime and where dreamtime people been travel through my country. They been putting the law for real people today, wherever they are. That's what i paint'.
Jimmy Pike
Jimmy Pike was born in 1940, a member of the Walmajarri people of the Great Sandy Desert, south of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. His early life was spent with traditional nomadic group moving from waterhole to waterhole, during which time Pike absorbed the country and its lore. He first met European Australians during his teenage years when his family joined the last migration out of the desert to the European settlements to the north during the 1950's. Jimmy Pike later learned the trade of stockman, working many large cattle stations in the north of the state.
He did not begin painting and printmaking until 1980 and soon developed a reputation as a unique and gifted artist. Jimmy Pike has gained national and international recognition through the 'Desert Designs' range. His paintings and limited edition prints are keenly sought by collectors and his works are hung in major Australian and international galleries and collections.
Pike's colourful narrative paintings and prints deal primarily with the land to which he is spiritually bound. Mythological themes are used to pay homage to ancestral beings and creationdramas, as well as exploring the experience of his people living in twentieth century Australia.
Jimmy Pike combines the traditional visual style of Aboriginal art - which offers conceptual interpretation of time and space - with the use of modern media such as acrylic paints and printing inks. His sinuous lines and bold colours are reflective of the Australian desert. Pike's work is also rich in spirituality, emphasising his desire to preserve the traditional stories, symbols and beliefs of his people.
