Queenie Lion Kemarre 1920
Alyawarr. Irrwelty and Atnwengerrp
Mbantua Fine Art Gallery and
Cultural Museum.
Utopia, Eastern Desert region,
Northern Territory
Awely
Women’s Ceremony
Acrylic on canvas
This painting represents Awely, women’s ceremonies, associated with stories from the artists land Atnwengerrp and Irrwelty. I have painted the ceremonial body painting, painted on the women’s bodies – the breasts, arms and thighs – during ceremonies. Powder from ground red, yellow, and white ochre and charcoal is used as body paint and applied with a flat stick with soft padding. The stick is called Typale.
The women sing the songs associated with their Awely as each woman takes her turn to be painted. The women perform Awely ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.”
The linear stripe in the design represents the patterns of ceremonial body painting.
