Colour country
New works on paper by Rammey Ramsey.
It didn’t come as a surprise to me to learn that Rammey Ramsey was a friend of the late Paddy Bedford. The similarities in the visual languages of both senior Gija men are clear. Both paint in what’s become known as the Kimberley style, made famous by Rover Thomas: sparse, flat and with minimal dotting. Bedford was one of the founders of Jirrawun Arts which Ramsey, now 74, began painting for in 2000. According to traditional Gija genealogy, Ramsey is Bedford’s son.
An exhibition of Ramsey’s new works on paper just opened at Grantpirrie, in Sydney.
Ramsey paints the country of his birth and family, mostly the gorge country northwest of Halls Creek, Western Australia, in an area surrounding Elgee Cliffs. [map]
These works distill the features of the landscape into lines, for rivers or roads, rectangles, for hills and stockyards (Ramsey, Bedford and Thomas all worked as stockmen), and circles, for water-holes, camping places or caves.
Rammey Ramsey, New Works on Paper, runs until 24 October 2009. Grantpirrie is at 86 George St, Redfern. [map]
Images details, all works:
Rammey Ramsey, Untitled 2008. Gouache on art board. 51 x 76cm.
Paul Hayes 2009.