Alan Griffiths

Alan Griffiths was a highly respected senior lawman with authority throughout the Victoria River and Kimberley regions. His arts practice was multifaceted interpreting both his cultural status and knowledge alongside more lighthearted images expressing his joy in cultural traditions and station life. Alan Griffiths was an accomplished painter, wood-carver, maker of cultural artifacts, song-man and dancer. Born at Victoria River Downs Station, Northern Territory in 1933 he has worked in stations across the top end. His broad station experience has included living and working as head stockman on Beswick Station, Katherine, Elsey Station near Mataranka in the Territory, Maninbelli Station, Elizabeth Downs, Delamere and Willaroo. Moving onto Wyndham, Western Australia, Alan worked as a plumber before settling on Newry Station, again as a stockman as well as a cook. In 1965 he settled in Kununurra, living at Ivanhoe Station operating a tractor on a cotton farm. Alan married his ‘promised bride’, Peggy Griffiths, and had five children, 27 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. After his retirement from farm work in the early 1980s Alan began painting his Country, mapping the significant features and cultural stories of the land. His repertoire of images includes paintings that map and name country reflecting the artist’s intimate knowledge of a vast country as well as documents of traditional stories and corroborees, cattle mustering and camel treks. Painted in natural ochres and pigments, his traditional stories are characterized by a series of small figures “dotting” the canvas and are presented as playful, joyous celebrations of his life and cultural commitments. His mapping and naming of country is not only evidence of his knowledge of Country, his authority in culture and ultimately his ownership of his traditional lands. Alan was a leading performer at traditional events. Together with his wife Peggy Griffiths, he was dedicated to teaching traditional dances to his community and family. Alan wa s a respected law and culture man for both his traditional Country near Timber Creek and for Miriwoong culture in Kununurra.