Vincent Namatjira P.P.F (Past. Present. Future.)

In 'P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future)', Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira has assembled 7 figures significant to his life and practice in a large-scale ‘heroes narrative’. The work is semi-autobiographical – the artist states that each of the men represented on the wall have inspired him, and remind him of who he is. Namatjira has painted his father-in-law, Kunmanara (Jimmy) Pompey on the far left, alongside an image of a stockman on a horse. Aboriginal stockmen across Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory were the backbone of the late 19th and early 20th-century pastoral movement and worked without pay in difficult conditions to herd livestock. The artist says, “This image is me pointing out to the Sydney Harbour, and I’m holding the Aboriginal flag. Here, the self-portrait brings the past and the present together, since I’m standing on the roof of my great-grandfather’s famous green truck. It’s past and present, and then pointing forward is like looking to the future; a strong, hopeful future for Indigenous Australians. The Aboriginal flag for me represents pride, resilience and recognition.” The artist would like to express his gratitude to his friend and colleague Eric Barney and Iwantja Arts staff for their assistance with the production of this artwork. Vincent Namatjira, 'P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future)', 2021, synthetic polymer paint, commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2021, supported by Veolia Environmental Services, image courtesy the artist; Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney; and Iwantja Arts, South Australia © the artist