Mbantua Gallery Alice Springs

Mbantua Gallery Darwin

Abie's paintings are distinguished by their meticulous dotwork and contemporary designs, reflecting the stories and Dreamings she inherited from her ancestors. Over the years, she has evolved into an exceptionally skilled colourist and designer, experimenting boldly with elements of line, colour and form.

River

Bush Turkey Dreaming

Bush Medicine Leaf

Abie began her artistic journey around 1994, under the mentorship of her grandmother Kathleen Petyarre. Kathleen played a crucial role in guiding Abie's early development as an artist. She taught Abie the intricate methodologies of dot painting, emphasising the use of fine dotwork to create detailed designs and complex optical effects.

Abie's bolder, thick-lined creations are initially formed using wider paint brushes. She then meticulously outlines these bold designs with her signature fine dotwork, creating a striking contrast and adding intricate detail to each piece.

To create her fine dotwork pieces, Abie uses bottles of paint topped with fine needles, applying each dot with meticulous care and patience. It is a mesmerising process to watch as the artwork takes shape, gradually building into a creation that vividly reflects Abie's imaginative vision.

Abie's Bush Medicine Leaf paintings are created using small, fine paint brushes. She carefully selects her paint colors and, with great patience, begins painting each individual leaf. Gradually, she builds these delicate details into the final, intricate creation.

Watch our videos below of Abie Loy painting.

Bush Medicine Leaf

Abie depicts the leaf of the antywerleny (Acacia tenuissima), a type of wattle. The leaves of the antywerleny are traditionally crushed and mixed with animal fat to create a medicinal ointment or soaked in water to make a medicinal wash. Abie notes that this bush medicine continues to be made and used by the people of her country today.

Bush Turkey

In her paintings, Abie's intricate dot work symbolises akatyerre (desert raisin or bush tomato), a preferred food of the Bush Turkey. The various lines depict the tracks of the turkey as it travels, often leading children on a search for bush tomatoes. These journeys occur in Ilyentye, on the "other side" of an old dry riverbed running through Mosquito Bore in Utopia. The central circle in her paintings represents a waterhole where the Bush Turkey comes to drink kwatye (water).

Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Akatyerre (Desert Raisin or Bush Tomato)

Abie depicts awelye (women's ceremony and body paint designs) for Akatyerre, also known as the bush tomato or desert raisin. The akatyerre thrives on Spinifex sand plains throughout Central Australia and is characterised by its beautiful purple flowers and soft green leaves. Traditionally, Aboriginal people consume the fruit of the akatyerre raw or grind them into a paste, which can be rolled into balls and dried for storage during long periods of drought.

The linear pattern of stripes and curves represents the awelye designs associated with akatyerre. These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs of women during ceremonies. Women sing songs associated with their designs as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up'.

Awelye (Women's Ceremony)

The linear designs represent awelye, which are women's ceremonial and body paint designs. These patterns are traditionally painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs of women during ceremonial occasions. The paints used for awelye are powders ground from red and yellow ochre (clays), charcoal and ash. They are applied using a flat stick with soft padding.

During awelye ceremonies, women sing songs associated with their designs as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up.' These ceremonies hold significant cultural importance, serving as expressions of respect for their country and contributing to the overall well-being and health of their community.

River

There is an old dry riverbed that runs through Artita (Mosquito Bore) in the Utopia Region where Abie grew up. Shaped like a snake, this riverbed dried up many years ago. Abie recounts that when her grandparents were growing up, it was full of kwatye (water). They would often drink from it and collect kwatye for the community.

Abie recently visited her exhibition at Mbantua Gallery in Alice Springs. She expressed great joy seeing her artworks displayed prominently, allowing a wide audience to experience and appreciate her creations. Abie is passionate about sharing her stories and culture through her art and this exhibition provides a valuable platform for her to connect with people and convey the rich heritage and traditions of her community.