MB060944
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), Bird, Country, Camp Scene, Rainbow Dreaming, Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Ceremonial Man, Dog, Footballer
Lily's work has featured in several group exhibitions since 1977, including shows at Utopia Art, Sydney; the Orange Regional Gallery; the Austral Gallery, St Louis, USA; the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin; and the Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs. Lily was part of the Robert Holmes à Court exhibition of batik. Lily generally paints using very fine dot work or brush strokes.
All of Lily's Dreamtime stories belong to her country, Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr. This painting is inspired by the Dreamtime story of the Ilyarn or Ilyarnayt, a rare and attractive plant growing throughout Central Australia.
This plant is particularly favoured for the abundance of edible grubs living in the roots, known simply as Ilyarnayt, and also its seeds (Ntang Ilyarnayt) which are collected, ground into a paste and used for making damper (bread).