EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE - UNITILED (ALHALKERE)

 EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE
UNITILED (ALHALKERE),  1990
180 x 120 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Belgian Linen
 
PROVENANCE
Utopia, NT
Delmore Gallery, NT Cat No #OG02Private Collection, South AmericaPrivate Collection, France 
 
STORY
This significant early work by the artist, features an underlying pattern of Anooralya yam, it's roots covered by layers of dots representing a blanket of seeds, flowers and leaves. Painted in a traditional palette of earth colours, the work depicts the relationship between the emu and country. Beneath the ground the  yam is ready for harvest, while above,  the male emu feeds on seeds, whilst shepherding chicks into areas where the yam thrives. This hardy and fertile plant provides both an edible tuber vegetable and a seed bearing flower called Kame (Emilyā€™s tribal name). The visual evidence of maturing species is found where cracks appear in the earthā€™s surface indicate its maturity.Such application of red and yellow colours highlights the varied and changing hues in the life cycle of the Yam and other food plants found near Alalgura on Utopia Station, west of Delmore Downs. From an aerial perspective we see sporadic clustered growth after summer rain. We also look on this exciting work as a water catchment area. The rain falls and water slowly flows along the broad shallow watercourse and replenishes the soakage at Alalgura. The flourish of growth that follows is exceptional and rapid.Ceremony reinforces, through narrative, the significance of this knowledge, by teaching survival skills and knowledge, basic social codes and obligations.
 
EXHIBITED
EXHIBITEDCooee: Come Here, March 2021, Cooee Art | Redfern