ABIE KEMARRE LOY - BODY PAINTING

 ABIE KEMARRE LOY
BODY PAINTING,  2005
167 x 211 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Belgian Linen
 
PROVENANCE
Utopia, NT
Gallerie Australis, SACooee Art Gallery, NSW 
 
STORY
The linear designs in Abie's painting represent awelye (women's ceremony and body paint designs) for the Ahakeye (Bush Plum). These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs. Powders ground from red and yellow ochre (clays), charcoal and ash are used as body paint and applied with a flat stick with soft padding. They call this stick 'typale'. The women, represented by the 'U' shaped motifs, sing the songs associated with their awelye as each women takes her turn to be 'painted-up'.Women perform awelye ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community. This painting shows the grandmother's dancing and teaching all the young girls the Awelye.