My Country - Australian Aboriginal Art

The term “My Country” is used throughout the central Australian desert when an artist talks about their work. The artist will often state “it's my country” or “that's my country”. This does not refer to the artist's ownership of land or country by whitemans title, it speaks of ownership through the passing of story, carried on by skin and bloodline. It is the proud ownership of story that connects the artist to their country.

Land gives us a sense of place and to the artist it encapsulates their existence. Embedded in it lies 40,000 years of tradition. Dreamtime stories tell of great journeys across the land, of its creation and inevitably its future. It’s a life force that continues to nourish Aboriginal culture.

Aboriginal Galleries of Australia, Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery and Jinta Desert Art are family associated galleries. Originally from Melbourne, my parents Michael and Shirley Hollow have been based in Alice Springs for a number of years and over the past two decades they have built strong relationships with the artists we deal with. My sister Natalie and her partner Semon Deeb are based in Sydney.

Working in the aboriginal art industry can be very demanding and it is definitely not a 9 - 5 job. My parents are extremely devoted and passionate and have been a constant driving force, offering a support system to a great number of artists. They facilitate, encourage, promote, sell and are also avid collectors. The artists we deal with choose to walk through the front gallery doors, the respect that we have for each other is mutual.

The Aboriginal Art industry has strengthened over recent years with the support of community art centres and galleries. Without both of these components there wouldn’t be an industry. I’d like to acknowledge my parents for their dedication and thank them for the priceless, first hand experience we have been privileged to.

Being an Aboriginal art dealer is a way of life. My father has said to me that I’m a better “collector” than an “art dealer”. What can I say to that? It’s true. At times I hate parting with works.

We have a strong connection with every artist and painting that pass through our galleries. For the past 20 years we’ve been a part of living history, seen blank canvases transform to works of art, shared conversations and passed on stories of culture and country. To me that is provenance.

Maryanne Hollow
director

September 2005