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1964
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower), Alhepalh (Acacia Shrub), Country, Camp Scene, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Rainbow Dreaming, Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Yerrampe (Honey Ant) Dreaming
Hazel Morton Kngwarreye is the daughter of Katie Kemarre (second wife to Billy Petyarre) and comes from a large extended family. She has had an extensive career as an artist and she began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 1991.
Initially Hazel worked in the medium of batik along with over eighty other women, including many of her family, from the Utopia Region in Central Australia. During this time she was involved with the batik workshops and is represented in the Holmes à Court Collection 'Utopia - A Picture Story', 88 silk batiks, which toured extensively. Hazel was also part of 'A Summer Project' 1988-89. Many of her step sisters, cousins and her sister Janice are also artists for Mbantua Gallery, sharing many of the same stories and a similar style, unique to their large family.
Hazel paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories which belong to her country, Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr.
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.
