Allan Mansell, Medeeka (Flowers of the Valley), 1993

Allan Mansell

Medeeka (Flowers of the Valley), 1993

Acrylic on canvas painting

Signed, dated and titled by Allen Mansell on the back with his copyright

19 × 29 × 3/4 inches

This exquisite 1993 painting is by the celebrated Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Allan Mansell, whose work is rarely found stateside. It is titled "Medeeka" (Flowers of the Valley), after the violet and purple colored water hyacinth flower in the artist's native Tasmania.

Biographical information on Allan Mansell:
A Celebrated Tasmanian Aboriginal Artist.
Nation: Plangermaireenier
Allan is an original Tasmanian and hails directly from the survivors of the British invasion, who had inhabited the Island of the Furneaux Group in Bass Strait, Tasmania.
His family were the last of the Indigenous Nomadic Groups who traversed Tasmania in search of work and food without car or possessions. Allan was later taken by the authorities and became part of the stolen generation.
Allan’s visual vocabulary takes on a very specific style and aura that encompasses the land, the flora, and fauna around him, its though he holds a genetic memory of the past.
He expresses these emblems of his past and present through exquisite compositions, conveying simplified forms of echidnas, leaves, ants, snakes, birds and more.
Generally, his art tells a story of what was, what is now and what can happen.
Allan‘s work has been sold all over the world and hangs in prestigious venues in Europe and America.

Allan Mansell was born on 7 May 1957. He lived in many parts of Tasmania including the island communities of the Furneaux group in the Bass Strait. As a child he and his family moved around Tasmania a great deal following seasonal work such as mutton birding, small fruit harvesting and various agricultural work. This was a common experience for Aboriginal children in Tasmania during the 1960’s.
Allan has lived on Bruny Island for the past 14 years where he has developed his artistic skills as a means of expressing his Aboriginality and love of the natural world. Before taking up study at the University of Tasmania Allan was employed by Parks & Wildlife Tasmania. He has studied three years of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree where he majored in print making and studying painting. During this time he exhibited extensively in both collaborative and solo exhibitions.
His images have been used to promote cultural awareness within the wider community.

Artist Statement:
The artwork that I produce is unique in that the Tasmanian Aboriginal art culture has been lost in a short period of time. Consequently, the images that I create are my own. Because the culture which we had was stolen and discarded I have to create my own symbols. I use my art to tell stories about my past, stories from my family and elders. This artwork reflects my knowledge of the Tasmanian bush. Within my work a political content has emerged.