SP10719
Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Sugarbag (Native Honey) SP10719-Susan Hunter Petyarre
Susan Hunter Petyarre
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1969
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Arawerre (Soapy Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:Sugarbag (Native Honey), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Women's Story, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Sugarbag (Native Honey)
Susan was an active participant in the Utopia Women's Batik movement, with her work featured in 'A Picture Story', a project initiated by CAAMA in the late 1980s. She transitioned to painting on canvas during the same period and has since been involved in numerous group exhibitions, including the Robert Holmes à Court touring exhibition of silk batiks.
Coming from a family of artists, Susan shares her artistic lineage with her mother, Molly Pwerle, and her older siblings, Annie, Jessie and Sandy Hunter - all of whom are celebrated artists. Their work is characterised by a refined style, often comprising intricate patterns of individual fine dots that narrate the stories of Arawerre country. Additionally, they paint stories related to Atnwengerrp and Irrweltye, their mother's ancestral lands.
Susan paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for Sugarbag. Sugarbag is the bush honey of Australian native bees. Bush honey can be found in the trees in her country.
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.
SP10719