Five Guardians

Artist Arone Raymond John Meeks (Indigenous Australian, 1957 - 2021)

Date1997

Object number00031065

NameLithograph

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsImage: 350 × 285 mm
Sheet: 395 × 367 mm
Overall: 395 × 367 mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis black ink lithograph, titled 'Five Guardians' by Arone Meeks, depicts a female figure towering above five cylindrical spirit guardians who represent the stars of the Southern Cross constellation. It is one of a set of twelve prints entitled 'Origins' commissioned by the Olympic Arts Festival of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games in association with Studio One Inc.History‘The Five Guardians’ tells the story of the formation of the stars of the Southern Cross and is based on an ancestral story of the Five Guardian spirits. This story comes from Meeks’ country, Laura in Queensland. It forms one of a set of twelve prints titled 'Origins' which were commissioned by the Olympic Arts Festival as part of the ‘Festival of the Dreaming’ in 1997, for the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. SignificanceThis artwork demonstrates the vibrant style of a contemporary Aboriginal Australian artist and assists in the interpretation of Aboriginal culture and tradition.