Lin Onus, a Yorta Yorta artist of Aboriginal and Scottish descent, represents a singular voice in Australia’s cultural life. Esteemed for his wit, talent and panache, Onus’s work is a negotiation of cultural identity, using both Aboriginal and Western techniques to unsettle easy categorisation.

‘Untitled (Cross)’ is a unique screenprint, the fruit of a collaboration between Onus and master printmaker Shaike Snir. The two met at Port Jackson Press Australia in 1989 and over the subsequent years built an intimate rapport, spending their lunch breaks producing experimental works like this.

The cross that rears across this work is inspired by iconic Aboriginal artist, Rover Thomas. In his work, Thomas references the ‘Killing times’, periods of Australian history that were rife with the massacres of Aboriginal people. From this perspective, the cross repeated here can be read as an X marks the spot, a signifier that something serious occurred on this ground.

This screenprint is not just symbolically powerful, it is culturally significant – a vestige of artistic collaboration, experimentation and Onus’s sensitive yet compelling eye. He was an artist whose vision was only matched by his activism, writing in 1990 that he hoped to be remembered as a “bridge between cultures, technology and ideas”. With representation across public collections and an OBE, it is undoubtable that he has.

For collectors of important Australian, Aboriginal and contemporary art, ‘Untitled (Cross)’ is a unique opportunity. It has an unbroken chain of provenance and is embossed with the Lin Onus Estate Stamp.

Lin ONUS (1948 - 1996)
'Untitled (Cross)' 1996
screenprint on paper
Edition of 1
Image Size: 50 x 75 cm
Dimensions: 71 x 101 cm
Signed: Embossed with'Lin Onus Estate' stamp, lower right corner
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Unique experimental print produced by Lin Onus. Excellent provenance, direct from the master printmaker Shaike Snir at Port Jackson Press, Australia.

A similar print from these plates, titled Pebbles with Black Rectangle is in the collection of the NGA, Accession Number: 2019.756. 

Condition is Very Good: Paint surface is in excellent condition. Very slight small marks in margin around lower edges. 

(c) Lin Onus / Copyright Agency