Artwork Story
Katie paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for Pwenty (Men's Ceremony). The aboriginal men are dancing as they did long ago. Katie says there is no more dancing anymore because the old men are gone and the younger men are 'too shame' (embarrassed). Men are painted up with ceremonial body paint designs on their chests and thighs. They carry boomerangs and various decorated ceremonial nulla nullas (sticks).
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.
Katie Kemarre
1943
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Antarrengeny, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk, Wood Sculpture
Subjects:Apeng (Desert Kurrajong Tree) Flower Dreaming, Ngkweyang (Kurrajong Seed), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Pwenty (Men's Ceremony), Antarrengeny Country, Camp Scene, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and Pwenty (Men's Ceremony), Ceremonial Man, Lake in Antarrenge
Katie Kemarre was born in 1943 and is an Alyawarre artist from Antarrengeny Country in the Utopia region, north-east of Alice Springs. She is recognised as one of the artists who contributed to the development of the renowned Utopia art movement.
Before moving into acrylic painting, Katie was involved in the Utopia batik movement and participated in the significant Utopia - A Picture Story exhibition, featuring 88 silk batiks by Utopian artists that toured internationally. She also took part in the 1988-89 Summer Project, which introduced many Utopia artists to painting on canvas.
Working across silk batik, acrylic on canvas and linen, and wood sculpture, Katie paints stories including Apeng (Kurrajong) Dreaming, Amern Ngkweyang (Kurrajong Seed), Awelye (Women's Ceremony and body paint designs), Pwenty (Men's Ceremony), Country and camp scenes. Her artistic practice continues to evolve while remaining deeply connected to her cultural traditions.
COLLECTIONS
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT
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Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, SA
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National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
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National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
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The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA
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The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica, USA
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- Artist Name:
- Katie Kemarre
- Artwork Size:
- 180 x 120cm
- Medium:
- Acrylic on Canvas
- Year Painted:
- 2018
- Title:
- Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and Pwenty (Men's Ceremony)
- Free Shipping Worldwide!:
- This painting on canvas will be shipped in a cylinder to you free of charge, worldwide! An option to have this painting 'stretched' onto a wooden frame may be available. If selected, further charges will apply and will be calculated at checkout.
