Awelye (Women's Ceremony)

Charmaine Pwerle

1975

Anmatyerre and Alyawarre

Atnwengerrp, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen

Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Creation, My Country, Awelye (Women's Ceremonial Body Paint Designs) - Atnwengerrp, Atnwengerrp - Creation, Women's Business - Old Time Way

Charmaine Pwerle was born in 1975 and is an Anmatyerre/Alyawarre artist from Atnwengerrp Country, north of the Utopia region in Central Australia. She is the daughter of renowned artist Barbara Weir (deceased) and granddaughter of celebrated artist Minnie Pwerle (deceased). Her sister Teresa Pwerle and brother Freddie Torres Pwerle are also established artists.

Born in Alice Springs, Charmaine grew up between Utopia, Adelaide and Alice Springs. She attended Utopia School and St Phillips College in Alice Springs before returning to Utopia in 1992, where she worked for Urapuntja Council. Living at Soakage Bore with her mother and grandmother, she learnt important cultural knowledge, Dreaming stories and Awelye (women's ceremony).

Charmaine began painting in 2012 and creates powerful, contemporary works based on the Awelye designs passed down to her from her grandmother. These ceremonial body paint designs are traditionally painted onto the body during women's ceremonies using natural materials such as red ochre and ash.

Working with acrylic on canvas and linen, Charmaine paints bold and expressive interpretations of Awelye, Creation-Awelye and My Country. Her artworks honour the strength of women's traditions and the ongoing connection between ceremony, culture and Country.