Atwakeye (Bush Orange)

Valorine Kngwarreye Morgan

1982

Alyawarre

Ingkwelaye (Kurrajong Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas

My Grandmother's Story, Atwakeye (Bush Orange), Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming

Valorine is the granddaughter of the late Minnie Pwerle, a celebrated contemporary Indigenous artist who passed away in 2006. She fondly remembers the time she spent caring for her grandmother, recounting, "When nanna was alive, I looked after her - cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. I prepared paints and changed water when she did painting. I took nanna out hunting and camping. We caught witchetty grub, kangaroo, goanna, bush banana, sugarbag…lots of tucker!" These cherished memories of her early years in Utopia deeply influence her art.

Valorine began painting around the age of sixteen, learning by observing Minnie and other family members. After the birth of her first child, she took a hiatus from painting but later returned to her artistic practice. Her father, Keith Morgan Petyarre, is also an artist from Utopia, while her mother passed away when Valorine was young.

Today, Valorine's work predominantly focuses on 'My Grandmother's Country', reflecting the artistic style of Minnie Pwerle and her aunty, Betty Mpetyane. She often paints Awelye (women's ceremony) and Anemangkerr (bush melon) from Atnwengerrp, continuing the rich cultural tradition of her family through her artwork.