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Lin Onus & Mandjad

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Lin Onus
b.1948 Melbourne VIC – d.1996 Melbourne VIC
Country: Yorta Yorta/Barmah Forest
(Image credit: Andrew Chapman)

 

Lin began painting in the mid 1970s after working alongside his father Bill Onus making artefacts and souvenirs. Largely self-taught, he evolved as an accomplished landscape painter with a complex story to tell, becoming one of the most significant Indigenous artists in Australia.

In 1986 he visited Garmedi, Arnhem Land (NT), where the ensuing cultural exchange provided an integral part to the artist’s visual repertoire. Under the guidance and authority of Jack Wunuwun and others, Lin combined his representational Australian landscape genre with specific Arnhem Land ‘rarrk’ or cross hatching designs. The artist’s work encompassed a lifetime commitment to being ‘a bridge between cultures’, inspiring opportunities for artists all over Australia.

Lin’s stories often show a quirky sense of humour amidst sensitive cultural insights. His works are held in numerous national and international collections.

Story/Statement

 

Lin Onus and Mandjad Productions The Ongoing adventures of X and Ray

This series features an unlikely pair of travel companions X the stingray and Ray the Dingo. The late Lin Onus first portrayed these characters, X and Ray, in a 1992 his work titled, Michael and I are just slipping down the pub for a minute. This work features an ochre-striped dingo surfing a rarrked stingray atop a Japanese Hokusai-style wave. These characters were charged with supernatural qualities based on indigenous thinking and shared stories.

Following these painted works was the creation of a series conceived and made in collaborative spirit with fellow artist Michael Eather as three-dimensional forms in fibreglass. Lin’s son Tiriki Onus, who had always been included in the projects, worked with his father and Michael in their respective studios. The stingray holds special significance for Michael just as the dingo is integral to the work of Tiriki and Lin, up until Lin's untimely death in 1996.

Since Lin’s untimely death in 1996, Michael and Tiriki have continued The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray in 2D and 3D. Whilst X and Ray have often made political statements, their primary intention is to remain light-hearted creatures of whimsy.

New 21st ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS have been published and are signed as 2021, available in 4 set paper sizes. The new anniversary editions allow the original editions to retain their value while removing formatting inconsistencies of some works. It has also allowed us to introduce two new paper sizes.

21st ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS feature:

  • 320gsm SIHL paper;
  • re-calibrated colours to best match original artworks;
  • slightly different image sizes in some cases.

Please note the image Michael and I are just slipping down to the pub for a minute will be sold at a higher price. Generally this image outsells the other 7 images at around 3 to 1. As editions of the other images sell out, the prices will be revised from what is reflected below.

All prints are available in three sizes:

  • A3 print run of 48; test proof run of 5
  • A2 print run of 48; test proof run of 5
  • A1 print run of 21; test proof run of 4
Paper sizeImage sizeEdition #Test proof #RRP
A3 (42x30cm)32x24cm485

Michael & I - $950

All other prints - $390

A2 (60x42cm)43x32cm485

Michael & I - $1650

All other prints - $900

A1 (84x60cm)60x45cm214

Michael & I - $4500

All other prints - $1250

 

All prints (with the exception of New age toas... new age guys) are also available in the 'Hero' image size:

Paper size: 130x100cm

Image size: 106x80cm

print run of 9; test proof run of 3

Paper sizeImage sizeEdition #Test proof #RRP
Hero size (130x100cm)106x80cm93

Michael & I - $5500

Remaining 6 prints - $3500

 

CV

 

 

MANDJAD PRODUCTIONS (TIRIKI ONUS + MICHAEL EATHER)

Michael Eather born: 1963 Tasmania

Tiriki Onus born: 1981 Melbourne

Mandjad Productions established: 1999

 

2022 HARDWIRED: Laurie Nilsen, Lin Onus & Vincent Serico FireWorks Gallery

2022 Dingo Project curated by Djon Mundine OAM Ngununggula Bowral 

2014 Asia Contemporary Art Show Conrad Hong Kong

2013 Collaborative Corner FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2010 Lin Onus: Meaning of Life touring exhibition Maroondah Art Gallery; Counihan Gallery Victoria

2009 Lin Onus Prints & Paintings Coo-ee Gallery Sydney

2003 A Few Good Men fortyfivedownstairs Melbourne

2000 The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray (a feature installation in touring survey exhibition):  Urban Dingo: The Art and Life of Lin Onus 1948-1996  Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane; Museum of Melbourne         

2000 Journey Tracks Commissioned Artwork featuring The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray Motorama Toyota Showroom Moorooka Brisbane

2000 Flotilla (Michael Eather, Tiriki Onus & Friends) commissioned artwork Melbourne Art Fair; Royal Exhibition Building Carlton Melbourne

2000 Flotilla (with Michael Eather, Tiriki Onus & Friends) commissioned artwork Museum of Melbourne

2000 The Art of Place (with Campfire Group) Old Parliament House Canberra

1999 The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1999 Connecting Worlds Commissioned Artwork Homebush Novotel Hotel Sydney

 

COLLECTIONS

Museum of Democracy Canberra