27/08/2001

The death of the prominent Aboriginal artist Turkey Tolson, on August 6th , has been problematic for Christie's, Australia but provided publicity for the auction house which may boost the sale price of the work. Christie's had arranged to auction Straightening Spears in Sydney on the 26th and priced it at between $ 21,000-32,000 (€ 23,000-35,000). The auction catalogue had been printed containing photographs of Tolson at work and a full-page picture of the lot. In Aboriginal custom, particularly in the Central Desert, where Tolson lived, a dead person's name should not be mentioned or his or her image shown to his relatives, clan and wider tribe.Ms Annette Larkin, head of contemporary art at Christie's, said that following Tolson's death, the issues that concerned her were the appropriate naming of the artists and the publication of his photo. Christie's has sought the consent of the artist’s family members before the auction. Instead the artist will be referred to as Kumanytjayi or Tjupurrula, which are the names given to the deceased. (James Goulder)