Lindsay Bird Mpetyane / Snake Dreaming (2B)

Lindsay Bird is an Aboriginal leader in the Utopia district.  He worked as a stockman and lives at Mulga Bore Station with his wife Mavis, also an artist, and their three daughters.

As one of the few male participants, Lindsay was involved in the famous batik project at Utopia, the artworks of which toured Australia and overseas from 1977 to 1987.  Lindsay Bird Mpetyane was instrumental in making acrylic artworks more important at Utopia. After Emily Kame Kngwarreye, he was one of the first Aboriginal artists to have solo exhibitions.

As a senior Law man, he can depict many themes of men’s law in his paintings. His canvases are imposing with their boldness of colour selection and harmonious design. His paintings include the stories of Perentie Lizard, Snake Dreaming, Mulga Seed and Honey Ant.

Lindsay is a very successful aboriginal artist with collections in many countries, and his artworks are much sought after for investment and pleasure.

Selected Exhibitions

1989

• Solo Exhibition, Utopia Arts, Sydney

1990

• “Utopia – A Picture Story”, K.

1991

• “Flash Picture” – National Gallery of Australia

1992

• Touring Italy and Japan (Series of Canvases)

1993

• Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth

1994

• Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs

1999

• “Spirit Country” Museum of San Francisco, U.S.A

1999, 2000, 2002

• Chapel off Chapel Gallery, Melbourne

2003

• Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs

Selected Collections

• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
• Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
• Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
• Art Gallery of Western Australia
• Holmes a Court Collection
• Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica, S.A.
• Artbank

The painting narrates the Dreamtime story of two snakes growing up together, travelling the land and marking important places. The dots represent the Mulga Seed and Bush Plum, important food sources to the aboriginal people of the Utopia region. The Snake Dreaming starts at Harper Spring (Erutakuna). The snakes grew up there and were friends. They travelled to Ti-Tree, Aileron, Bushy Park, Aremula and Elgoanna. Elgoanna is a very important site, with connections to Wood Green, Harper Springs, Woola Downs and Adelaide Bore. Alcoota Creek is the border for Lyndsay’s part of the story.