![]() | Born: c. 1932 Language Group: Anmatyerre and Arrernte Country: Ahalpere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, Sculpture, Boomerangs Subjects: Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Olden Days Story, Owl, Curlew, Crow, Emu, Eagle |
Motorbike started carving in 2015, and painting in 2017 for Mbantua Gallery. Motorbike is married to Kathleen Ngale and they have two children, Mathew Mpetyane and Elizabeth Mpetyane. They live at Camel Camp in the Utopia region. Kathleen Ngale is a well-known artist and has been painting for Mbantua Gallery for a long time. Motorbike is very tribal and still makes boomerangs from time to time.
Collections
Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
In this painting, Motorbike paints the story of the Ahakeye. This is a very important story for Motorbike that belongs to his country. This story, its songs, dances and symbols have been passed down to Motorbike from his ancestors. The ahakeye, called bush plum in English by Motorbike, is also known as the native currant or citrus. It belongs to the canthium attenuatum shrub which grows about 3m high. This shrub produces small white flowers, deep green citrus-like leaves and the ahakeye which are black when ripe and very small. This fruit is favoured for its sweet taste and can be reconstituted in water if dry. Dot work represents the ahakeye.