The paintings of Lucy Ward and Loongkoonan speak the history of the Kimberley. It is a history that these women have lived and learnt from a lifelong engagement with the country of their ancestors.

Indigenart, The Mossenson Galleries are proud to announce the first Sydney exhibition from these acclaimed senior Kimberley artists. Birrajakoo: Belonging to the Land will be opened at 6pm on Tuesday 20 June 2006 at THE DEPOT 11, 2 Danks Street Waterloo, by Jody Broun, Director-General, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, NSW. The Mossenson Galleries are very pleased to announce that both artists will be travelling to Sydney for the exhibition.

Lucy began painting in 2003 and her works have been exhibited to critical acclaim throughout Australia, as well as in Europe, America and Asia. She has been selected as a finalist in numerous art prizes, including the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, The Alice Prize and in 2006 she was awarded first prize in the City of Stirling Art Award. Her work is currently touring Europe in the landmark exhibition Mamaa – The Untouchables and is held in numerous important collections including the Museum of Western Australia and the Berndt Museum of Anthropology.

In 2005 Loongkoonan began painting and in less than two years, she has already achieved a sell-out exhibition at Indigenart, Subiaco, and been acclaimed by Shaun Dennison, Aboriginal art expert for Christies as “one of Australia’s most exciting emerging artists.” She has been shortlisted in numerous major art prizes including the 2006 Alice Prize, the 2006 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize and the 2006 Sunshine Coast Prize, and her works have been aquired by the Berndt Museum of Anthropology.

Lucy and Loongkoonan paint with a passion and urgency to record their traditional stories. At an age when most people would be looking for a quiet retirement, Lucy (born circa 1920) and Loongkoonan (born circa 1910) have thrown themselves into painting with an uninhibited outpouring of inspiration and joy. Balancing a lively palette of colours with a great spontaneity of design, their works resonate with a heartfelt passion for their traditional lands. For these artists, painting is part of a remembering process that connects them to their country and culture.

The paintings of Lucy Ward and Loongkoonan exhibit an inimitable exuberance that offers the viewer a privileged insight into their profound understanding of the country of their ancestors. Indigenart, The Mossenson Galleries is proud to present an important new exhibition from these remarkable senior Kimberley women.