Urrempelang Angampekarl | Born from Ceremony

Martin Hagan’s work is born from the ceremonial ground. Martin is from Laramba, a community excision within Napperby Station - cattle country that is between the well-known art-producing communities at Papunya and Yuendumu. Several of the key founders of Papunya Tula art, including Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, Clifford Possum, Tim Leura and Billy Stockman, grew into manhood at Laramba in the 1930s and worked as stockmen on the station. 

Despite the fame of the first generation of contemporary Anmatyerr artists, the Laramba community has never had its own art centre. In this absence, Clifford Possum, returning to visit family as a celebrated artist in the 1980sand 90s, became the single, most important influence on the Laramba artists.

Having grown up around senior Anmatyerr men and women, Martin has developed a genuine passion for the cultural knowledge of his elders. His work conveys a deep commitment to Anmatyerr cultural traditions, particularly ceremonial design and performance, and a desire to see its distinctiveness recognised.

In this exhibition Martin permits us a window into a cherished yet vulnerable ceremonial life. This is deeply personal for Martin. “I get emotional sometimes when I listen to the old people singing. They always say, ‘You mob gotta carry on now.’” This is a generous body of work that conveys one man’s sense of obligation to, and love for, his cultural inheritance. 

Exhibition runs until June 14th.