MINNIE PWERLE - AWELYE - ATNWENGERRP

 MINNIE PWERLE
AWELYE - ATNWENGERRP,  2003
118 x 90 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Belgian Linen
 
PROVENANCE
Utopia, NT
Mbantua Gallery, NTDacou Gallery, NT Private Collection, NSWCooee Art, NSW 
 
STORY
The old women used to, and still do paint the ceremonial designs on their breast, first with their fingers, and on their chests, and then with a brush called a typale, made from a stick. They painted with red and white ochreā€™s.  Then they danced, showing their legs. The old women danced with a ceremonial stick in the earth.  The spirits of the country gave womenā€™s ceremonies to the old women. The woman sings, then she gives that ceremony to the others, to make it strong. The old woman is the boss because the spirits of the country have given her the ceremony. So all the women get together and sing.  The old women sing these ceremonies if people are sick; they sing to heal young girls, or children. If a child is sick in the stomach, they sing. The old women are also holding their country as they dance. The old women dance with that in mind. They teach the younger women and give them the knowledge, to their grand-daughters, so then all the grandmothers and granddaughters continue the tradition. The womenā€™s ceremony is kept separate to the manā€™s ceremony, though each one is equally as important.This story  conveys the artistsā€™  love and respect for the land and the food it provides to the people.  Awelye ā€“ Atnwengerrp is depicted by a series of lines painted in different widths and colours.  This pattern represents the lines painted on the top half of the womenā€™s bodies during ceremonies in their country of Atnwengerrp.