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c. 1920
Deceased:2020
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Irrultja and Atnwengerrp, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk and Cotton, Wood Carving
Subjects:Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Ntyeny Ngkwarl (Red Mallee Flower), Awele Awele (Bush Tomatoes), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Goanna, Scorpion Dreaming
Queenie was a senior woman of the Alyawarre speakers and played a significant role in the summer canvas project of 1988-1989, as well as in the early batik workshops at the Utopia community. Her work is represented in the Holmes à Court collections, encompassing sculpture, painting and batik.
Known as a prominent Utopia artist, Queenie predominantly focused on depicting body paint designs used in women's ceremonies. She lived in the Utopia region with her large extended family.
Queenie paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories which belong to her country, Irrultja and Atnwengerrp.
Linear designs represent Awelye. 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. The women sing the songs associated with their Awelye as each woman 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.
