Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming

Magdeline Payne Ngale

1980

Anmatyerre and Alyawarre

Mulga Bore, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Wood Carving

Country, Ntyerrm (Seed of the Dogwood Tree), Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam), Bush Medicine, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming

Magdeline Payne Ngale is an emerging Aboriginal artist from Mulga Bore in the Utopia region. She is Anmatyerre and Alyawarre and the eldest daughter of artist Jean Petyarre, the youngest of the renowned Seven Petyarre Sisters, and Brian Payne. One of six children, Magdeline has two sisters, Caroline and Janella, who also paint, and three brothers, Stanley, Damien and Brendan. She speaks Anmatyerre, Alyawarre and English.

Magdeline began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 2000, having learnt by observing her mother and paternal grandmother, Weida. Her artistic style has developed through strong family influences, drawing inspiration from her mother Jean, her mother-in-law and fellow artist Josepha Petrick Kemarre, and her late aunt, the renowned Gloria Petyarre. With Josepha's permission, Magdeline has adapted Josepha's distinctive dot-pattern design, which represents her Angkwerrpme (Mistletoe) Dreaming, to express her own Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming.

Working in acrylic on canvas and linen, as well as wood carving, Magdeline paints Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Bush Medicine, Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam), Bush Foods and stories connected to her Country. Her work reflects the strong cultural and artistic connections passed down through generations of her family.

Magdeline lives between Alice Springs and Harts Range with her husband Clinton, son of artist Josepha Petrick Kemarre, and their sons. Through her artwork, she continues to develop her own artistic style while sharing the stories, cultural knowledge and traditions connected to her family and Country.