EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE - UNTITLED

 EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE
UNTITLED,  1994
121 x 91 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Belgian Linen
 
PROVENANCE
Utopia, NT
Delmore Gallery, Northern TerritoryLowensteins Art Collection, VIC 
 
STORY
Such application of red and yellow colours, highlights the varied and changing hues in the life cycle of the Anooralya 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.Reflected in this work is the Anooralya Yam,the most important plant in Emilyā€™s custodianship. This hardy and fertile plant provides both a tuber vegetable and a seed bearing flower called Kame (Emilyā€™s tribal name). The visual evidence of maturing species is no cause for alarm in terms of survival, for the yam tuber can always be found where cracks in the earthā€™s surface indicates its presence underground.Ceremony reinforces through narrative, the significance of this knowledge, in particular, it teaches survival, basic social codes and obligations. The superficial lineal presence keeps this ceremonial reference always present in her expression